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VERMONT BRIGADE 



SHENANDOAH VALLEY. 



18 6 4. 



// 



BV ALDACE F. WALKER. 




BURLl>-aTON, VT. 

•JHE FREE PRESS ASSOCIATION. 

1869. 



u 



J 



CONTENTS 



IXTRODUCTION. 



I- PnELIMINAHY. 

II. FoET Stevens. 

III. Snicker's Gap. 

IV. Haeper's Ferry. 
V. Sheridan. 

VI. To Strasburg and Back. 

VII. C'HABLESTOWN. 

VUI. Camp Life and an Episode. 

IX. Opequan. 

X. Fisher's Hill. 

XI. A Month of C^nrpAi.iNiNy. 

XII. Cedar Creek. 

XIII. ClINcLI'SION. 



^ 



1 



fl 



INTRODUCTION. 



]']VER since the term'nation of the late war for the Uuion, so 
lionorable in its oViject, and so successful in its result, the citi- 
zens and citizen-soldiers of Vermont have hoped and expected 
that some one, among the manj- who are in every way com- 
petent for such a task, would gratify her people with a pub- 
lished record of the history of her regiments. It is a debt 
which they owe to the patriotism and self-sacrifice of their 
native State. Her boundaries are narrow, and tlie number of 
organizations which slie maintained in tlie field was compara- 
tively small — seventeen regiments of infantry, one of cavalry, 
tliree batteries of light artillery and three companies of sharp- 
shooters, comprised the whole ; but as these, with the exception 
of one three-months' regiment and five of nine-months' men, 
vv'ere constantly replenished with recruits, the luimber of enlist- 
ments was very large in proportion to the number of commands, 
reaching a total of thirty-four thousand two hundred and thirty- 
eight men. The admirable series of Annual Reports prepared 
by our efficient Adjutant and Inspector-General, Peter T. Wash- 
burn, contain a wonderfully pains-taking and accurate resume 
cf the bare facts of the military life, the date of enlistment and 



vm INTRODUCTION. 

of discharge, tlie promotion«, wounds, imprisonment, or deatJi, 
of each one of those thirty-four thousand two hundred and 
thirty-eiglit, save only seventy-five, not finally accounted for. 
We may well be proud of those Reports, which have not been 
equalled in any State, though it is to be feared that our Com- 
monwealtli may, at some time, regret the too frugal distribution 
of them, for which our economical legislatures from year to 
year provided. 

These Report-^, in addition to the marvellously exact rfgi- 
mcutal rosters ju.-t uieniioned, contain also official reports of 
most of the actions in which Vermont troops were engaged, fur- 
nished by the various commanding officers, and a clear, thougii 
concise, history of their operations during each year, prepnrt'd 
by the Adjutant-General himself 

But these official records, valuable as they are, compriee but 
a trifling jjart of what should be preserved from the history of 
tliose terrible years. Tlic musty volumes of a town derk'a 
office, be they ever so minute in their details of biitlia, 
marriages and deaths, of deeds and mortgages, of taxes anii 
votes, give, after all, \ery little insight into the state of the 
community itself v,-hen fifty years have passed. It is the daily 
lite that we wish to recall, the thoughts, the feelings, the ci'^v 
toras, the gossip — the vario\is incidents of every description, 
'hat fill up the outlines, and make the difference betwccii a 
chronological table and a history. All the corresponding det:ui 
of the march, the camp, and the battle, our soldiers s'lowld 
write out and preserve, while the precious memories are stlU 
vivid. Critics may carp at their literary deficiencies, but iheir 
fellow citizens will thank them cordially fur anything that 
assists in perpetuating the remembrance of those days, when tlie 
people fought their earnest war to save their beloved countrj^. 



INTRODUCTION'. IX 

The elegant and vivid monograph of Lieutenant G. G. Eeno- 
tJict on '• Vermont at Gettysburg," shows how interesting an 
actor can make those scenes appear of which he was a part. 
Tlie only regret one leels in its perusal is in the thought that 
this is all that lias liithcrto been done in this direction by our 
soldiers. 

T\'ith an experience of but twelve months of actual campaign 
service, Che writer of these pages cannot, of course, attempt to 
execute such a general history of the Vermont troops as he 
ibcls should be, and still hopes will be, soon compiled ; but no 
such volume having been, as yet, presented or promised, he 
rentures to ask, on behalf of his State, that it be quickh- done, 
and meanwhile to add his mite by giving, as well as he is alile, 
all that his qualifications will permit him to attempt, the his- 
tory of six regiments for six months; fortunately for him, not 
the least noted regiments, and not the least interesting anil 
exciting months. 

But he must explain that he feels it to be lia.'^ardons for him tc 
nndertakeeven this comparatively trivial task, from the fact that 
the regiment to which ho had the honor to belong, and which lie 
had tlie honor to command at the battle of the Opequan, (the 
proudest recollection of his life.) was not, from the tirst, a 
aicmber of tlie Vermont Brigade. In fact, his regiment was 
for a long time treated by the " Old Brigade" as an interloper, 
with no claim to any share of the honor so justly due to the 
Tcterans of the Peninsula and of Fredeiicksburg. This pos'tion 
&nd treatment were felt most humiliatiugly bj' the 11th Vermont 
when it was first enrolled as a member of the Brigade, on the 
]5th of May, 18G4, near Spotts^-lvania Court House. Originally 
unlisted as an infantrj^ regiment, we had served under the title 



X INTUODL'CTIOV. 

of the Isl Vermout Artillery, iu the defeuces of Washington, 
for eighteen niontlis previous to our being ordered to take tho 
field. The regiments which had been constantly at tlic front 
were meanwhile jealous of our "soft thing," and the taunts 
with which we were greeted when finallj' ordered to the service 
for which we had enlisted, were certainl_y natural, and perhaps 
just. It was hard however, to be suspected of a liability to tar- 
nish tho fair fame of tlie Brigade. We too were from Vermont, 
and why shoidd we be less brave than our former neighbors, 
whose noble deeds had long been our constant boast ? 

But b}" the time that the command had reached the Shenan- 
doah Valley, by way of Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, and Peters- 
burg, it was our belief that this feeling was passing away, 
and that the " Old Brigade " was beginning to acknowledge 
itself cordially glad of the timely reinforcement. It is certain 
that, while deficient in the fighting experience which went so 
far in enabling a good soldier to accomplish the most with the 
least comparative danger, tlie 11th Vermont never, for an 
instant, showed anj- unsoldierly lack of bravery. The writer 
trusts that now, after the final campaigns, resulting in the cap- 
ture of Petersburg and Lee, and the joint happy discharge of 
the Brigade, including his regiment, it will not be regarded as 
presumptuous for him to assume the role of Brigade historian 
for a portion of the period of his service as a member of it, even 
tliough liis memoranda and his memory ma}- be especially par- 
ticular respecting his own command, while merely general con- 
corning the other older regiments. Xo one honors the "old" 
regiments more than ho, and he will do his best to be fair 
towards all. Meanwhile, if his own regiment seems to be made 
mucil of at the expense of any of the others, he asks tliat it l.>e 



r^ 



PRELIMINARY, 25 

ill less than six months it was in the thickest of the 
important battles at the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, 
Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Charlestown, the Opequan, 
Fisher's Hill, and Cedar Creek, besides a larger num- 
ber of minor affairs in which the Brigade was 
engaged, the total number of Yermonter.s killed and 
wounded under its lead and during that brief period 
reaching the terrible aggregate of three thousand one 
hundred and sixteen. 



J.' 



INTRODUCTION. , xi 

kindlj- considered in bis favor that every man loves his own ; 
that it cannot be otherwise than tliat he should have been 
especially impressed by its exj^loits which he saw, rather than 
by others equally worthy, of which he only heard, or, perhaps , 
of which he failed to hear ; and that during the period under 
consideration the 11th actually constituted about one half of the 
entire Brigade; and having introduced this somewhat delicate 
subject, he cannot refrain from saying that, after a few months 
field experience, his regiment became again disposed to punc- 
tiliously insist on its full official designation of 1st Artillery 
11th Vermont Volunteers, aud its members gloried in their 

nickname of '"Heavies." 

A. F. W. 



y 



I' J< i: L IMINA R y. 

Tlir; part Uiln'.u in the lato war )>y ih'i \'<;rmorit 
IJrigado can never be for;/otten while thanks remain 
for any Northern Holdiers. In the war for Independ- 
ence the " Green Mountain lioys " made their name 
historic ; in the war for I'ne L'nion their descendants 
revived the ancestral friory, and earned ne'.v honor for 
their State, Without the assistance of the metropolitan 
press, without political influence, and under officers 
unknown to fame, this organization fairly fought its way 
into prorninence and became the theme of universal 
praise. Citizens of the model Republic of our thirty-six 
llepublican States, these soldiers might have been ex- 
pected to do their duty always, and well. They added to 
that the exhibition of uniform and most unusual capacity 
to meet the emergencies of war, and a remarkable 
quality of steady quiet courage, comparison with which 
was the highest honor. If a good reputation was ever 
honestly earned, if any martial renown can ever stand 
the test of candid investigation, that reputation and 
that renown belong to the A^irmont Brigade. 



14 niELIMINARY. 

The consolidation of various regiments from the same 
State into one command, might, with profit to the sei*- 
vice, have been carried much further than it was. Its 
success, in brigades formed solely from citizens of 
Wisconsin, Michigan, New Jersey and Vermont, was, 
in each instance, complete. It was urged against the 
plan that if it were generally pursued, some severe loss 
might chance to suddenly fall upon one community, 
which would be distributed among various States, if 
troops from diiferent sections were commingled ; and 
also that emulation within brigades would be promoted 
l)y uniting stranger regiments, from different parts of 
the countiy ; but the result proved that the average 
mishaps were, on the whole, very evenly distributed 
throughout the army, and that the larger the command 
into which a spirit of unity could by any means be 
infused, the greater the good effect of the natural strife 
for excellence in competition with others. A leader's 
name, a past joint danger or success, sometimes pro- 
duced this harmony ; but the most ready and effective 
method, which was unfortunately too rarely adopted, 
was that which gave us the Vermont Brigade. 

Memories of home were strong in every soldier's 
heart ; personal acquaintances and friends of friends 
abounded in every regiment thus united ; the honor of 
the State was felt to be at stake, in a higher degree, 
upon the deeds of the combined command; and when, as 
in our case, the organization comprised so proportion- 
ately large a portion of the entire offering of our 
Commonwealth for the three years' service, the effect 



PKELIMINAKV. 15 

of tliese statu considerations became almost inconceiva- 
bly strong. 

It was notably recognized in the famous order 
of brave John Sedgwick, in the Wilderne?s : "Keep 
the column closed up, and put the Vermonters 
ahead!" 

There was a " Second Vermont Brigade," consist- 
ing of five regiments of nine months' troops, wiiich, 
under Stannard, did a marvellous feat at Grettysburg, 
their only battle-field. Their record is to be found 
elsewhere. 

The Vermont Brigade was organized in 1862, and 
was then composed of the 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th and 6th 
regiments of Vermont Infantry Volunteers. Major 
General William F. Smith (Baldy Smith) was the origi- 
nal Colonel of the od, and for a long time commanded 
the Division to which this Brigade was assigned. Major 
General Brooks, who afterwards commanded the 10th 
Army Corps, was its schoolmaster ; his stern discipline 
and lion-like bravery led it honoi'ably through the 
Peninsular campaign, and the subsequent battles of 
Antielam and Fredericksburg. 

While the Brigade was confronting Spottsylvania 
Court House, in May 1864, the 11th Vermont was 
added. This regiment at that time exceeded in num- 
bers the entire Brigade it joined, which had just sacri- 
ficed its larcfcr half in holdino; to the end, against 
Longstreet's repeated attacks, the celebrated plank road 
in the Wilderness. That wonderful feat of arms, which 
left one Vermont regiment ])ut five oflicers, and another 



16 PRKLIMINARY. 

only three, out of over twenty in each when they crossed 
the Rapidan, gives a fair exhibition of the fighting 
qiiality of the Vermont Brigade. 

The campaign in the Shenandoah A^alley was the 
brightest period in our history. The men were gener- 
ally well clothed and well cared for ; the season and 
the country were alike delightful ; the successes there 
obtained were palpable and complete. The battles of 
the Army of the Potomac had previously been terrible 
in carnage, and unsatisfactory in result ; very rarely, if 
ever, had it witnessed the entire discomfiture of the 
enemy, and his confused retreat ; and when, by the per- 
severance of Grant, Lee had, at last, been pushed to the 
wall at Petersburg, the very wall itself seemed a perfect 
barrier and a complete defence. 

But under Sheridan all this was changed. The fight- 
ing was equally bitter, but we enjoyed on every occasion 
the unwonted excitement of entire and glorious success. 
The inspiration which that General gradually infused 
into his army, was unprecedented in our country's his- 
tory; its fruit appeared long afterwards at Sailor's 
Creek, when two Divisions of the Sixth Corps unex- 
pectedly seeing Sheridan leading their charge, broke 
forth into the wildest cheers, and captured Ewell with 
nine thousand men. 

The A^ermont Brigade, in July, 1^04, was officially 
known as the Second Brigade, Second Division, Sixth 
Army Corps. 

Major General Horatio G. Wright was the Corps com- 
mander, having recently succeeded the lamented Sedg. 



PRELIMINARY. 17 

wick, who had won in a remarkable degree the esteem 
and affection cf his men, and who was rarely spoken 
of save as " Uncle John." It was a hard post to fill, 
and some quiet gi'umbling was, of course, occasionally 
heard ; but General Wright, although sometimes unfor- 
tunate while holding independent command, was an 
exceedingly careful and pains-taking officer, promiit and 
energetic almo;>t to excess ; his great desire to be punc- 
tually ready, and to thoroughly accompli.'-h the end of 
the moment, occasionally causing his men to think him 
unnecessarily severe. He was known among his supe- 
riors as a most admirable executive officer ; first in the 
Department of the South, and afterwards as a Division 
commander under Sedgwick, and as a Corps commander 
under Meade and Sheridan, he did yeoman service for 
our cause. 

Brigadier General George W. Getty, v.'.io was bre- 
yetted Major General in the Shenandoah campaign, 
commanded the Second Division. It may be said with- 
out hesitation, that the army did not contain a better 
Division General than he. True in all soldierly in- 
stincts ; conspicuous for personal counige on the battle 
field ; repeatedly wounded in action ; careful in disci- 
pline, but uniformly kind and courteous to all ; almost 
silent in general conversation ; the impersonation of 
modesty ; frequently overslaughed by men of much infe- 
rior worth, who, zealous lor promotion, would condescend 
to fish for it in filthy waters, — but never complaining ; 
intent on his duty, and forgetful of himself; a native of 
the District of Columbia, a West Point graduate, the 



18 PRELIMINARY. 

husband of a Virginian, whose rehatives at Staunton, in 
full sympathy with the enemy, were reached by our 
cavalry during Sheridan's campaign, — but with so many 
Southern associations, an earnest patriot ; always to be 
found at the head of his men, who trusted in him 
implicitly ; he was, all in all, the model of an educated 
American soldier gentleman. 

Our Brigade was commar.dcd by Brigadier General 
(subsequently Brevet Major General) Lewis A. Grant, 
a Vermont lawyer, who entered the service as Major of 
the 5th ; whose bravery and whose energy were never 
questioned ; who had, by diligent study, made himself 
so thoroughly acquainted with the red tape of the Regu- 
lations, that he became a martinet in his disposition to 
require the performance of many of its absurdities, 
which arc especially ridiculous in a field campaign ; but 
who, with all his fussiness, was entitled to great credit 
as a hard worker and a vigilant commander. The fact 
is that there is a love of minutiae and a sense of the 
beauty of infinite detail, incorporated, by force of habit, 
into the very life of a regular officer, which few volun- 
teers could appreciate, and which they were very much 
disposed to sneer at sub rosd, while recognizing the 
great benefit derived, in time of war, from a corps of 
educated soldiers. For instance, a distinguished Division 
commander in the Sixth Corps, whom the writer lately 
accidentally met, joined enthusiastically in praising that 
organization, and said that it was acknovi^ledged to be 
without a peer. My mind, of course, at once reverted 
to our brilliant battles and herculean marches, but he 



PRKLIMINAKY, 



19 



proceeded to explain. " General Hancock's Second 
Corps," said he, " was the only one that assumed to 
compete with us, and even he admitted to me, on the 
occasion of one of our reviews, that he could never get 
his artillery batteries to march with as perfect a line as 
ours did !" It was certainly the faintest basis one 
could imagine on which to found a claim for military 
preeminence, and the gravity and earnestness with 
which it was asserted, made it appear almost ludicrous. 
Such attention to trifles was esteemed by officers fresh 
from the careless life of the citizen, as certainly folly, 
almost scandal, in the time of our country's danger. 
We could, of course, value a clean gun and orderly 
accoutrements, while excellence in drill was willingly 
sought for and highlj^ enjoyed by the volunteers ; but a 
life spent in peaceful soldiering, where the only possible 
competition was in such matters as the comparative 
brilliancy of brass shoulder-scales, or the dressing of the 
. ranks of half-a-dozen parallel six-horse teams, had in- 
spired the officers of our regular army with a veneration 
for such nonsense, which tended greatly and unjustly 
to lower our estimation of their military capacity. They 
could fight too, and they proved it. 

Now General L. A. Grant was constitutionally a 
Regular in such matters, without a Regular's experience 
and power of adaptation. This explanation may serve 
to make clear that the leputation for old-maidishness 
which he acquired among his troops, would, by many, 
be regarded as the highest compliment. On the battle 
field, the care with which he always provided for a 



20 



PRtlLIMIXARV. 



skirmish line in his front, was especially noticeable, and 
though his Brigade was sometimes overwhelmed, it was 
never surprised. 

The commanding officers of the various regiments 
were as follows : of the 2d, which was a " veteran " 
regiment, the three years of its first enlistment having 
expired, Lieutenant Colonel (afterwards Colonel) Amasa 
S. Tracy ; of the 3d, Colonel Thomas 0. Seaver ; of 
the 4th, Colonel (since Brevet Brigadier General) 
George P. Foster ; of the 5th, Captain Eugene A. Ham- 
ilton, this regiment having lost all its field officers in 
the preceding campaign ; of the 0th, Lieutenant Colonel 
Oscar A. Hale; and of the 11th, Lieutenant Colonel 
George E. Chamberlain, its Colonel, (afterwards Briga- 
dier General,) James M. Warner, having been shot 
through the neck at Spottsylvania, and appropriated by 
the Washington authorities on his reporting for duty, 
being assigned to the command of a Brigade in the 
northern defences of that cit3^ This regiment, the • 
11th, on account of its comparatively large size served 
in two battalions, Avhich were manoeuvred as inde- 
pendent regiments, though usually side by side, com- 
manded respectively by Major (afterwards Colonel) 
Charles Hunsdon, and Major (subsequently Lieutenant 
Colonel) Aldace F. Walker. 

Of the men composinsr the re";iments thus cora- 
raandod, little need now be said. Their actions will 
speak for them as this account proceeds. Gen. Sheri- 
dan insists on every occasion that it was the private 
soldiers who fought the war : certainly whatever credit 



■ PRJU.IMINAUY. 21 

the officers of the Vermont Brigade attained was little, 
ill comparison with the glory earned by the rank 
and file. 

Its officers and men were almost all native-born Ver- 
monters. Love of country gave it zeal, and the 
strength of the hills filled it with might. Its foreign 
admixture was very small; a few Irishmen, nature's 
cosmopolitans, and a few Canadians lured from over 
the border by the eucrmous bounties oifered for re- 
cruits, were all. And in every soldierly quality no 
class of men is equal to the iuielligent, reading, prop- 
erty-holding citizen, who wears his uniform to show his 
convictions, and uses his good sense in performing his 
daily duty. 

An apparent [laradox appeared wliich has been so 
generally noticed that it may be set down as one of the 
striking lessons of the war ; the moi-e cultured, re- 
fined and delicately nurtured the soldier had been at 
home, the better he seemed to endure the hardships of 
the campaign. The scholar would almost invariably 
outwear the laborer. And these soldiers to a man 
were scholarly enough to understand their errand and 
to know that individual duty done was the surest 
earnest of the peace they longed for. 

Among their associates in the Corps, our Brigade was 
held in the highest estimation. The writer remembers 
that while walkino; the midnight rounds of our Peters- 
burg picquet line one frosty night, he stopped to warm 
himself for a moment at an outpost fire. The five 
veterans on duty there were keeping themselves awake 



22 i-KELIMrXACY'.' 

by reiuiiidii)g each other of this and that reminiscence 
of the past four j'ears, and as some unusually vivid 
recollection was suggested, one exclaimed with the em- 
phatic approval of the balance of the group, " Then's 
when we wanted the Vermonters !" 

In claiming such a character and reputation the Ver- 
mont Brigade does no injustice to other troops which 
fought at their side. Except in an occasional instance 
of striking inferiority, little distinction could be made 
among the regiments from the north as they succes- 
sively became merged in the army; certainly no one 
ever supposed that soldiers from Vermont were intrin- 
sically better soldiers than those from New Hampshire, 
or Massachusetts, or Wisconsin, or any other State, if 
native-born, but the Vermont Brigade, in being thus 
consolidated, had a better opportunity than was usual, 
so that its regiments soon became harmonious, recipro- 
cally trustful in each other, confident in themselves, and 
were at last recognized throughout the Army of the 
Potomac as composing an organization to be uniformly 
spoken of with esteem, and even to be regarded with 
affection as an honor to the whole command. 

On the march, if the pace was for any reason hur- 
ried, the surmise was a common one that " the Ver- 
monters must be leading to-day," for their stride was 
tremendous. In camp they were always courteousl}' 
treated by their neighbors, and were good neighbors 
themselves, though it must be allowed that the state of 
discipline exhibited by the Brigade on the march or in 
camp never approached very closcl}- the Cromwellian 



I'KKLIMINAKV. lio 

ideal ; in I'aet the reiciments were organized somewhat 
on the town-meeting phm, aiid the men were rather 
deferred to on occasion by the officers ; not that there 
was any especially noticeable laxity, there was too 
much good sense for that, but there was hardly the 
least rigidity, and camp-life on the whole Avas of the 
easiest possible description. It was on the battle-field 
that the Brigade gained its glory, and even then it did 
not excel in feats of unusual or surpassing brilliancy ; 
the troops which most notably succeed in the charge 
are those whose natural courage is tempered and re- 
strained by complete official control : the most remark- 
able charge of the Vermont Brigade might have proved 
a fiasco if the enemy had not been utterly demoralized 
by its disorderly impetuosity ; the occasion referred to 
was on the morning of April 2, I8G0, when the Sixth 
Corps executed what General JMeade pronounced " the 
decisive movement of the campaign " against I'eters- 
burg, and Avhen the A'ermont Brigade, being the point 
of General Wric-ht's well-driven wedo-e, broke the 
line of the enemy's fortifications with a rush so eager 
and so unrestrained that its ranks were re-formed only 
after miles of pursuit and hours of victor}'. 

The distinguishing characteristic of this command, 
and the secret of its acknowledged preeminence on the 
battle-field, was its most remarkable tenacity. It was 
seldom if ever driven back by a direct assault, though 
it passed through a field experience second to none, and 
it presently became justly and most honorably known 
us always and entirely to be relied upon. Such steadi- 



24 I'J'tELI.Ml.NARV. 

ness in critical positious, perseverance against all odJs, 
and inability to admit defeat were the sources of its 
renown. Years of fighting proved the paramount value 
of such qualities, and brilliancy was at last admitted on 
all hands to be less important and less serviceable than 
steady, persevering, confident pluck. 

No description of the organization In whi>-ii we 
served would be complete unless it mentioned the 
system of badges used to distinguish its subdivisions. 
The badge of the Sixth Corps was the simple Greek 
Cross, (see cover.) Flannel cloth for the purpose 
WSLS issued by the Quartermaster's Department on 
the usual requisitions. This cloth, unless some more 
elaborate material was procured, was worn by every 
member of the different Divisions in the tliree national 
colors. First Division red, Second Division white, 
Third Division blue. Each General officer was fol- 
lo"wed by a mounted orderly bearing a headquarters 
flag which showed at a glance the command to which 
he was attached. Thus the Corps commander's flag 
was a white cross on a large blue pennant ; the 
flags of the Division Generals were square, — of the 
First, a red cross on a white ground, of the Second, 
a white cross on a blue ground, and of the Third a 
blue cross on a white ground : while the Brigade 
commanders were attended by smaller triangular flags, 
each in the Second Division showing our white cro.>-s, 
and that of our second Brigade being upon a red 
ground. The flag we followed during the campaign 
of 18G4 now hangs in the State House at IMontpelier: 



I[. 

FORT STEVENS. 

The Sixth Corps, for the first time detached from the 
Army of the Potomac, took ship at City Point on the 
10th of July, 18G4, (Col. Perley P. Pitkin, the first 
quartermaster of the Second Vermont, but at this time 
in charge of all the land and water transportation of 
General Meade's army, superintended the embarkation,) 
and reached "Washington in the evening of the following 
day. It disembarked to the music of Early's artillery 
on the morning of the 12th, and promptly marched up 
Seventh Street through the city, and out the pike to 
the front. We found the citizens in a state of great 
and not surprising consternation. The cannon of 
the enemy, whose camp was only five miles north from 
the Capitol, had been heard continually for two days, 
and it was known that the works were insufiiciently 
manned ; a few green hundred-day regiments, the 
scrapings of the convalescent camps, and some civilian 
government clerks and employees hastily armed in the 
emergency, comprised the entire garrison of the sixteen 



28 FORT STEVENS. 

miles of forts and works that encircled the city on the 
north of the Potomac. And the lines on the south of 
the river of equal extent had likewise to be occupied 
with the slender force at hand, although the rebels were 
not in force in that direction. 

Therefore the sight of the Veterans of the Sixth 
Corps was an intense relief to the constitutionally timid 
Washingtonians. We passed through crowded streets; 
cheers, good wishes, and fervent God-speeds were 
heard on every side. Citizens ran through the lines 
with buckets of ice-water, for the morning was sultry ; 
newspapers and eatables were handed into the column, 
and our welcome had a heartiness that showed how 
intense had been the fear. 

We pushed on rapidly through the dust, and were 
soon at the threatened point, Fort Stevens, on the 
Rockville pike, a little west of the centre of the north- 
ern defences. This Fort, with two or three others in 
the vicinity, was in great measure constructed by 
the 11th Vermont, and just here that regiment had 
spent a year and a half of its military existence. Long 
practice had made its officers and men entirely familiar 
with the range and capacity of every gun, howitzer, and 
mortar, but they had the mortification of seeing the 
artillery entrusted to troops who could hardly load 
heavy ordnance with safety ; when, by the lucky 
chance of its return to what seemed to it like home, 
great good might have been secured as the fruit of its 
early labors, unfortunately no use was made of the 
skill its members longed to exercise. 



FORT STEVENS. 29 

The Corps was kept concealed in a forest behind the 
lines, while a grand Council of War decided how the 
so timely reinforcements should be employed. President 
Lincoln, Secretary Stanton, General Halleck, General 
McCook, General Meigs, General Wright and others, 
had carefully discussed the situation and had diflPered 
materially as to whether a vigorous attack should be 
made by the entire corps, or whether the enemy's 
position should be first developed by a strong skirmish- 
line. The latter plan prevailed, and rather late in the 
afternoon the attacking party filed down the pike in 
front of the fort and rapidly deployed. Minute details 
of this affair cannot here be given, as the Yermoni 
Brigade was not involved. The sally was made by 
General IJidwell's Third Brig:.^^'^ of our Division and a 
company of about seventy-five who were selected from 
the various regiments of the Division and attached to 
General Getty's headquarters as sharpshooters, under 
command of Captain Alexander M. Beattie of the Third 
Vermont. 

The pseudo-soldiers who filled the trenches around 
the Fort were astounded at the temerity displayed by 
these war-worn veterans in going out before the breast- 
works, and benevolently volunteered most earnest 
words of caution. The enemy's skirmishers were at 
this time within sis hundred yards of the Fort in 
strong force, and their bullets, which were plenty, 
were assisted by shell from artillery planted be- 
hind them. 

In a few minutes all was over. Our brave men 



so FORT STEVENS. 

charged handsomely, for they meant business and 
knew how it was done ; the enemy after a bitter little 
contest fell back out of sight, leaving us to establish 
our picquets for the night where we would. The 
Vermont Brigade relieved the charging party for this 
purpose, and the dignitaries in the Fort returned to 
their homes, having witnessed as pretty and well con- 
ducted a little fio-ht as was seen durino; the whole war. 
President Lincoln was present on General Wright's 
invitation, which he says he bitterly repented having 
given, when to his surprise it was accepted. The 
President persisted in standing on the parapet, though 
an oflEice"r was wounded by his side, and his danger was 
a source of great anxiety to the General, who at last 
suggested that he should have to remove him by force, 
an idea which seemed greatly to amuse Lincoln. He 
at last consented to stand on the banquette, looking 
over the parapet, but was under fire to the end of the 
action. 

The object proposed in this affair was to make 
such a display of force as would convince Early that 
Washington did not propose to submit to be tamely 
captured, and to relieve our line from the annoyance 
of the enemy's sharpshooters. It succeeded even 
better than was hoped, since as its result the rebels 
abandoned the vicinity at once. That night Early 
rapidly retreated, and there can be no doubt that the 
arrival of the Sixth Corps, with its prompt oflfensive 
movement, was the immediate cause of his withdrawal 
from before the city he had so bombastically threat- 



FORT STEVENS. 31 

ened to destroy. There can also be little doubt that he 
might have taken it on either of the two days he spent 
in its neighborhood before our arrival from Petersburg. 

In this affair the Vermont Brigade lost one man 
killed and one wounded from the Third, one wounded 
from the Fifth, and three wounded from the Eleventh, 
all serving at the time in Captain Beattie's company 
of sharp-shooters. This company lost quite severely 
in driving the rebel marksmen out of a house near 
our lines, from which they had greatly annoyed 
the Fort, and which was riddled with bullets and 
cannon balls. 

The total loss was about two hundred and fifty killed 
and wounded on each side. At one point half a mile 
from the Fort, where the enemy had thrown up a little 
entrenchment of earth and rails across the road, a large 
number of his dead were foiuicl, and the struggle there 
m.ust have been quite severe. A large number of his 
wounded were left behind in the houses near Silver 
Spring, on his hasty retreat. 

Our dead were afterwards carefully collected, and 
interred in a lot just in front of the Fort, purchased 
for a cemetery by the government. The battle-field 
is now one of the objects of interest to Washington 
sight-seers. 

All this was in the District of Columbia, and it served 
to give the semi-rebels in that vicinity a practical taste 
of the horrors of war. Perhaps a dozen dwellings of 
well-to-do citizens were destroyed because they ob- 
structed the range of cur guns ; one situated directly 



III. 

SNICKER'S GAP. 

AtTKR their demonstration against the Capitol, the 
enemy made their way to the north-west, proposing to 
cross the Potomac near Poolesville, forty miles or so 
above "Washington. We lost some time in order to 
be satisfied that Eai-ly had not gone to Baltimore, 
as the presence of a squad of rebel cavalry on the 
Washington branch of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad 
seemed to indicate, and then the Sixth Corps was 
ordered out in pursuit, of course too late to overtake 
more than the rear guard which Early left on the 
north side of the Potomac. For a few days Ceneral 
Wright was the commander in the field, being directed 
by General Grant to go outside the works with all 
the available force at the disposal of the Washington 
authorities, and to follow up the enemy until he was 
convinced that they had completed their raid and 
returned to Richmond ; but when so convinced, to 
retrace his steps and re-embark for Petersburg. 
Wright's independent command lasted only a week. 



36 snicker's CiAP. 

but our exertions for the next forty days were tre- 
mendous, and we accomplished apparently nothing. 
Marching almost constantly, frequently by night as 
well as by day, we nearly exhausted all our energies, 
while gaining no credit whatever for our wearisome 
struggles. The army knew no better than the country 
at large what it was doing so vigorously, and we have 
never even yet been able to entirely comprehend our 
mysterious manoeuvres. 

Of course it is not the writer's intention, or within 
his ability, to give a military criticism of the operations 
of the Army of which our Brigade formed a part, but 
its services cannot be understood or narrated without 
continual reference to the general campaign, and the 
movements of the Army will frequently sufficiently 
describe the movements of the Brigade. 

It is the more satisflictory thus to be compelled to 
touch upon the conduct of affairs at large, because the 
history of Sheridan's Valley campaign has never been 
even partially written, though well worthy the closest 
study as a continual daily exhibition of the highest 
military science : meanwhile the mazy period before 
the rising of his brilliant star must be hastily threaded 
through, although the task will be laborious and un- 
profitable except by way of contrast. We shall be 
enabled thus at least to see IIow not to do it, and How 
it was done. 

It may here be said that but one newspaper corres- 
pondent fairly reported the movements and actions of 
this Army under cither Wright, Tfunter, or Sheridan ; 



snicker's gap. 37 

Mr. Jerome B. Stillson of the World. A reprint of 
his letters would perhaps be as good a general history 
of these campaigns as could be given. 

That first night's march from Washington, July 13, 
1864, was one of the most fatiguing we ever performed. 
The Vermont Brigade was selected as rear guard to 
bring up the stragglers and the trains. The position 
occupied in a marching column makes a vast deal of 
diiFerence in the ea&e with which the journey is per- 
formed : the head of the army, which always moves by 
the flank, or four abreast, being greatly preferable, for 
various reasons : chiefly because the obstructions con- 
tinually met with from fences, bridges, fords, mud-holes, 
broken wagons, and a thousand other causes, compel the 
rear of a column to crowd up to a halt while the regi- 
ments which have passed advance steadily, so that the 
troops behind, as they successively surmount the difl[i- 
eulty, are compelled to make great exertions in order 
to properly close up the marching column ; this alternate 
crowding and hurrying being excessively annoying as 
well as fatiguing. In order to distribute the inequality, 
the Divisions in our Corps always marched in numerical 
order, leading by turns ; the Brigades in each Division 
followed the same rule, and also the regiments in each 
Brigade were each successively in advance for a day, 
the regiment, Brigade and Division, at the rear one day 
taking the lead on the next. The advantages of this 
system were so great that it was pursued even by the 
ambulances and the wagons of the trains. 

On the march in question it was the luck of the 
4 



38 snicker's gap. 

Vermont Brigade to be last of all, and orders were 
even received for it to follow the train. This was 
interpreted to mean that we should go in the fields or 
in the road itself on each side of the rearmost wagons, 
assisting them if necessary, and for ourselves, scram- 
blino; alono as best we could. 

Exhausted already with picquet duty for a night and 
a day, we got off about three o'clock p. m. ; at nine we 
reached Fort Reno, having made in six hours less than 
three miles. Here we found Colonel Warner in com- 
mand, and after a look at his headquarters and a hasty 
greeting, plunged forward through the 3Iaryland 
woods and gullies into the darkness. The wagons soon 
became entangled, mired, and frequently upset. The 
mules and drivers were green, our old teams having 
been left at Petersburg. The road was narrow and of 
itself difficult. The men presently began to steal out 
of the columns and lie down to rest. Many were 
actually lost in the forests as we hurried on, and this 
horrid confusion continued all the night long. When 
we halted for breakfast we had marched 21 miles. The 
balance of the Division was then just ready to com- 
mence its next day's march, having rested for hours, 
and after barely time for a cup of coffee we struggled 
forward under the July sun, our system of rotation 
then placing us in advance of all. That afternoon we 
reached Poolesvillc, the last few miles of our journey 
being enlivened by the cannonading of a section of artil- 
lery, which, with a little cavalry as our advance guard, 
was driving the rear of the enemy toward the river. 



snicker's gap. 39 

Having thus marched forty miles iu twenty-four 
hours, we lay still the next day (the 15th) near Pooles- 
yille, grumbling because our haste had been apparently 
so profitless. Here the 3d Regiment, with Colonel 
Seaver, left the Brigade, their three years' service 
being completed : a command of respectable size, 483 
officers and men, (218 on duty,) under Lieutenant 
Colonel (afterwards Colonel) Horace W. Floyd, re- 
mained however, composed of men who had re-enlisted 
and who had joined the regiment as recruits, still known 
as the od Vermont. 

On the 16th of July we crossed the Potomac at Con- 
rad's Ferry ; our skirmishers in advance driving a few 
rebel videttes up the hills on the southern bank, and our 
artillery shelling them as they galloped away. On our 
way to the river we passed through a corn-field already 
so high that the tassels waved against the shoulders of 
the horsemen. 

The scene at the ford was new and exhilarating ; the 
river is quite wide at this point and about thigh deep : 
the horses were loaded double or treble, and most ot 
the footmen, not having the fear of women before their 
eyes, carried their clothing upon their shoulders ; brig- 
ados were crossing in several places for a mile up and 
down the river ; every one greeted the unusual sensa- 
tion of the slippery rocks and the gurgling water with 
shouts and laughter ; the burdened men were here and 
there overthrown by the swift current, and occasionally 
one would slip from a staggering horse and be burried 
for an instant in the stream, to the intense amusement 



40 snicker's gap. 

of all but the unfortunate : in such a gleeful humor 
we re-entered Virginia, and laid ourselves out to dry 
upon her sacred soil. 

Presently we went on through Leesburg, perhaps 
fifteen miles beyond the river, to the summit of the 
Catoctin Mountains, which we found to be a ridge of 
cultivated hills running north and south across the pike 
on which we were moving towards "Winchester. 

About this time General Wright's command, which 
had hitherto consisted only of the First and Second 
Divisions of his own Corps, was joined by his Third 
Division under Ricketls, just from Baltimore, by a Di- 
vision of the Nineteenth Corps under Emory, fresh 
from New Orleans and the Red River, and by two 
small Divisions, commanded by Colonels, under Crook, 
which were known at headquarters as the Army of 
Western Virginia, but were incorrectly called by the 
rest of the army and the correspondents, the Eighth 
Corps ; they were composed of Ohio and West Virginia 
troops which for a long time had served in this vicinity. 

On the 17th Crook reached Snickersville, but failed 
to force the Gap bearing the same euphonious name ; 
on the 18th the rest of the army followed, and the reb- 
els crossed the mountain. 

That day we obtained our first view of the celebrated 
Valley of the Shenandoah. Snicker's Gap, through 
which we passed, is really very little of a gap, being a 
slight depression where the pike crosses the Loudon 
Mountains, or the eastern Blue Ridge. We were 
marching towards the west, and were halted on a plat- 



snicker's gap. 41 

eau about half way down the mountain on the western 
side. We thence for the first time overlooked a coun- 
try with the topography of which we afterwards became 
entirely familiar : that beautiful Valley, the garden of 
Virginia. It extended north to the Maryland Heights 
across the Potomac, south as far as we could clearly 
see, and twenty miles or more in width to the western 
Blue Ridge, beyond the city of Winchester, whose 
spires we could perceive in the distance glistening on 
the plain. The surrounding country dotted with houses 
and groves and waving fields, well watered with wan- 
dering brooks, the fertile farms with harvests even then 
ripening in abundant premise, the occasional glimpses 
of the blue Shenandoah rushing past the very foot of 
the mountain, on the rugged side of which we stood, 
and the blue hills bounding the landscape where it faded 
into indistinctness, made up a most glorious view» 
scarcely equalled on the continent in its mellow beauty.. 

Meanwhile Crook, exploring across the river, had 
become entangled in what was called in the dialect of 
his troops, a right smart little fight ; and though he was 
supported by Ricketts and assisted by sundry batteries- 
on our side of the river, his men were driven back in 
intense disgust. It was generally understood however 
that we were under orders to discover but not to fight. 

On the next day, the 19th, Wright finding the fords 
in our front commanded by the enemy, cast about 
towards Harper's Ferry to the north, or through Ashby's 
Gap to the south, for a circuitous route whereby he 
might enter the Valley with his army, the men mean- 



42 snicker's gap. 

while hunting for raspberries on the mountain side. 
On the morning of the 20th to our surprise Early was 
gone. The whole army at once forded the Shenandoah, 
or the Shining Door, as the soldiers atrociously called 
it, and moved westerly towards Berryville and Win- 
chester. We went out three or four miles and found 
no enemy. Early had apparently returned in haste to 
Richmond ; the cavalry could find no trace of his 
whereabouts. 

That day every body robbed a bee-hive, and hard-tack 
was eaten with sweet-meats ; ask the members of the 
Vermont Brigade for a list of the natural productions 
of the Shenandoah Valley, and every man will begin 
his answer with honey. 

In the afternoon orders were decided upon and issued 
that changed the entire appearance of the game. Ap- 
pearances indicated that Early had returned to Lee ; 
our instructions were to see him fairly off in that direc- 
tion, and then to anticipate him in reaching Petersburg 
if we could. All the General Officers coincided in the 
opinion that the object of the expedition was accom- 
plished. 

Crook's command was therefore sent on towards 
Winchester, being ordered to report to Hunter who had 
somehow turned up at Harper's Ferry in command of 
the Department, while the Sixth and Nineteenth Corps 
were ordered to return to Washington with all speed, 
where transports were awaiting us. 

The conclusion that Early had abandoned the Valley 
seems to have been hastily reached, and perhaps was 



snicker's gap. 43 

founded rather on what he was expected to do, than on 
actual information obtained concerning his movements. 
It will be remembered that we had been in full view of 
the rebel army on the previous evening. 

But we faced about at once, reforded the wide and 
rapid stream, and with soaked shoes and dripping 
clothes began a long and tedious march. Blisters were 
raised on every foot in the first half mile up the moun- 
tain side. The road was a series of loose rovxgh rocks, 
for weeks at a time in the rainy season the bed of a 
mountain torrent. Animals were suifering as well as 
men ; many of them were shoe-less, and no forage 
whatever was issued for this campaign. It was midnight 
when we reached the summit. The descent was easier 
and more rapid. Faster and faster we hurried on ; 
we came up with the Nineteenth Corps and went past 
it in the darkness while it was doing its Louisiana best. 
Thus we raced through Snickersville, across a ten 
mile valley, soldiers frequently asleep in the ranks, and 
the artillery crowding the road with the troops, past a 
little town where we had cheered so heartily, three days 
before, three children who saluted us with a miniature 
edition of the Stars and Stripes, the only Union flag we 
found in all Virginia save those we carried there ; 
through a rugged region where every citizen was a 
guerilla, and our ranks were counted file by file as we 
passed, and where a few tired soldiers, unable to keep 
the pace, dropped to the rear and were instantly 
gobbled up and hurried to the Libby ; till daylight found 
us once more at the western foot of the Catoctin. We 



44 snicker's gap. 

climbed the mountain wearily, expecting every moment 
the order for the breakfast which we did not get, and 
went down its eastern slope still hungry, and kept on 
without any halt until we reached the village of Lees- 
burg at nearly noon — a most extraordinary march 
whereby wc hope that we helped to "save the country." 
In the afternoon we went on a few miles further across 
Goose Creek, and the next day through Drainsville 
twenty -five miles further still. The picquet detail here 
found the memory of the Vermont Cavalry regiment 
distinct and pleasant in the recollection of the hospitable 
citizens. The third day (July 23d,) we re-crossed the 
Potomac at Chain Bridge and went into camp again in 
the northern defences of Washington. The 10th Ver- 
mont in Ricketts' Division which left Petersburg some 
time before us and joined us at Leesburg, claim, in 
the thirty days next preceding this, to have marched 
600 miles, besides fighting the battle of the Monocacy. 
The Vermont Brigade in ten days had marched much 
faster and further than ever before, and had apparently 
nothing to show for it, except the unwelcome orders we 
expected on reaching Washington, for an immediate 
re-transportation to City Point, and the false information 
that the Shenandoah Valley was free. 



IV. 
HARPER'S FERRY. 

Tuus we obtained our first glimpse of the Valley of the 
Shenandoah, and it seemed probable that we should see 
it no more. But our departure for Petersburg was 
suspended, as reports were received that Early, instead 
of returning to Richmond, was again threatening Harp- 
er's Ferry and Martinsburg, having driven Crook out of 
Winchester with quite severe loss. We now spent three 
days in Washington waiting for developments. Mean- 
while Colonel Warner at his urgent request was relieved 
from duty at Fort Reno and took command of his regi- 
ment, the 11th Vermont, which was at the same time 
detached from the Brigade, and assigned to the occu- 
pancy of eight forts, from Fort Stevens to Fort Lincoln, 
being those which it had formerly garrisoned. It 
performed garrison duty under these orders for one 
night, and on the 26th, was again ordered to report to 
the Sixth Corps on the Rockville Pike " for temporary 
duty " the order said, but the temporary part of it was 
soon forgotten. Meanwhile shoes and clothing had been 
issued to all the troops of the Corps, except this regiment 
which made the next campaign nearly barefoot ; and the 
paymaster had visited the Brigade with the exception 
of the unfortunate Eleventh which was left penniless for 
four months longer. 



4G IIAKPEU'S FERRY. 

On July 26th, the Corps was moving rapidly through 
Rockville on the road towards Frederick City ; the 
Eleventh caught up with the Brigade on the 27th and 
camped at Hyattstown ; on the 28th we forded the 
Monocaey, passed through Frederick and reached 
Jeflferson beyond the South Mountain at 11 p. M. ; and 
on the 29th we proceeded by Sandy Hook, along the 
banks of the Potomac and between the lofty mountains 
to Harper's Ferry, crossed the long pontoon bridge, 
climbed Bolivar Heights and at last went into camp near 
Halltown, four miles from the river and once more in 
the Shenandoah Yalley. We were seventy-five miles 
from Washington by the route we had taken, and had 
made the distance in two days and twenty hours. 

There is a very strong position where we rested, with 
which we afterwards became more familiar ; a line of 
hills, descending to the south-west, extends across the 
angle formed by the intersection of the Potomac and the 
Shenandoah. Here we camped for a night, wondering 
in army dialect why this was thus, Grcneral Hunter 
was then in command with nearly the same army which 
Wright had taken to Snicker's Gap and there disbanded. 

The next day, the 30th, we returned to Harper's 
Ferry and lay on Bolivar Heights, bleaching or burning 
rather in the sun, while we recalled the history of the 
celebrated village, and of the wonderful mountains 
which, on the North and the East, tower above it. We 
understood how basely Miles had surrendered his com- 
mand in 1862 on account of a threatening occupation of 
the Loudo'n mountains by the enemy, even while his guns 



HARPEU'S FERRY. 4-7 

on Maryland Heights still fairly commanded the whole 
position. We saw the spot down by the canal whore 
brave Colonel Stannard was discovered and recaptured, 
as he was attempting to quietly withdraw the 9th Ver- 
mont from the disgraceful scene. We gazed on the 
public buildings in ruins, and the sacked and riddled 
dwellings, with their mute sad story which needed no 
interpreter. And we remembered how the rash scheme 
of old John Brown, merely anticipating his time, had 
here thrown Virginia, mother of Presidents, into a par- 
oxysm of fear, with its terrible combination of twenty 
negroes, five white men, and a cow. 

Meanwhile Early had recrossed. the Potomac above us 
towards Hagerstown, and on this same July 30th, 
Chanibersburg in Pennsylvania was burned to ashes by 
the robber McCausland, who informed a clergyman there 
that "he was from hell," and doubtless told the truth. 
Our army was the sole defence of Baltimore and Wash- 
ington, and must instantly be thrown between those 
cities and the threatening enemy. 

Towards night we started back on onr weary route, 
halted for supper in Harper's Ferry ; spent long hours 
in crowding troops and trains across the narrow bridge 
in the darkness, hardly making five miles all the night 
long, though vainly striving to make ever so little pro- 
gress in the press of men and horses, wagons and guns, 
so that at daybreak we had our journey yet to perform. 
That Sabbath day's journey was the hardest march we 
ever made. The heat was intense ; the day was the 
very hottest of all the season ; the clouds of dust were 



48 harper's ferry. 

actually blinding ; the pace almost a gallop ; the poor 
men struggled bravely, ambulances were crowded, shady 
spots covered with exhausted soldiers, men falling out 
of the ranks at every rod, overpowered with the heat 
and positively unable to proceed ; actual cases of sun- 
stroke by the score and by the hundred ; a great 
scarcity of water ; tut no halt or chance for rest until 
towards night we reached Frederick City : that is, the 
mounted officers and the regimental colors, accompanied 
by from five to twenty of their respective regiments : 
it was straggling without precedent, or subsequent for 
that matter, but every man had done his best, and on 
the next day the ranks were full again. 

After this effort Hunter remained quiet for a week. 
Early meanwhile foraging in Western Maryland and 
Southern Pennsylvania. The Sixth Corps shifted its 
camps once or twice for sanitary or other considerations, 
the last few days of rest being spent on the banks of 
the beautiful Monocacy. 

Meanwhile the issues of clothing were completed ; 
the weather became cooler; and, lounging in the shade, 
or bathing in the stream, we for the time forgot our 
hardships and en;03^ed our lot. 



V. 
SHERIDAN. 

On August Gtli Lieutenant General Gi'ant visited 
Major General Hunter at his headquarters near Mono- 
cacy Station. The interview was without ceremony or 
display, but it had an important object, for a special 
train from Baltimore arriving about 11 p. m. brought a 
new member to the council in the person of Major 
General, now Lieutenant General Philij) H, Sheridan. 
The three officers went on to Harper's Ferry in the 
night ; in the morning Grant and Hunter returned, and 
Sheridan assumed command of the Army. On the 8th, 
(the next day) he telegraphed to headquarters the re- 
sult of a i-econnoissance towards Berry ville. 

At this time every one is familiar with the career ot 
General Sheridan, but when he commenced the campaign 
iu which he earned his first celebrity, he was almost as 
little known to the army as to the country at large. 
In the early years of the war he had been a Quarter- 
master, with aspirations to become a Major ; afterwards 
a Colonel of Cavalry ; then as a Brigadier he command- 
ed an Infantry Division at Murfreesboro, Chickamauga 
and Chattanooga, where he attracted the attention of 
General Grant, who with his usual sagacity gave him 
the command of the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the 
Potomac with two stars on his shoulders. In May and 
5 



50 SHERIDAN. 

June 18G4 he had handled his Corps bravely and well, 
had done some hard riding and some desperate fighting, 
but generally while detached from the rest of the army 
which knew little of his services except through the 
newspapers, and, in reading of them, made the usual 
Cavalry allowances. So that our army now welcomed 
his General Order No, 1 with no enthusiasm, and with 
almost entire indifference — in fact we were, on the other 
hand, a little afraid of him, for his only reputation 
hitherto was that of a desperate reckless fighter, and 
the immediate active campaign his arrival seemed to 
forebode was [anything but a pleasant anticipation. 
When he fought his first general engagement forty-three 
days from this time, we had learned that he knew more 
of war than simply the shedding of blood, and was a 
model of strategic caution as well as of decisive energy. 
We did not then know the nature of the orders under 
which he was to act ; they have since been published, 
and were to the effect that he must drive the enemy to 
the South and clear the Shenandoah Valley, leaving 
'• nothing to invite the enemy to return. " These orders 
were at last obeyed, though it was months before the 
end could be successfully accomplished, as the rebels 
were reinforced before we were able to bring on an en- 
gagement, and we were thus thrown on the defensive 
again. But there never was a defensive campaign so 
offensively conducted. The next month and a half was 
occupied in a rapid ceaseless game of fence with his 
antagonist, in which Sheridan though sometimes crowd- 
ed, never lost the control, and which culminated after 



SHERIDAN. 51 

a final week of tantalizing thrusts at every side of the 
enemy's armor, in the terrible day at close quarters 
before Winchester, when after one of the most desperate 
struggles and admirable field-days of the war, the rebels 
fled from the lower Shenandoah in confusion, never to 
return. 

In order to give a truer understanding of the cam- 
paign on which we were about to enter, a hasty esti- 
mate of the strength of the opposing armies will be 
given : Of Infantry we had three small Divisions in 
the Sixth Corps, which had already during the current 
year fought its way to Petersburg in the Army of the 
Potomac ; one comparatively large Division of General 
Emory's Nineteenth Corps, with little field experience ; 
and two fragmentary Divisions under Crook, well used 
to the work and the mountains. An extremely liberal 
estimate of these six Infantry Divisions would give them 
4000 men each or 24,000 in all. "We were soon after- 
wards joined by another Division of the Nineteenth 
Corps, 4000 men ; and by two Divisions of Cavalry from 
Sheridan's old Corps under Merritt and Wilson, which 
with Averill's little Division already with us, were con- 
solidated into a Cavalry Corps under Torbert. There 
were perhaps 8000 of these troopers, making 36,000 in 
the entire army. It was weakened however by safe- 
guards, hospital attendants, teamsters and train guards, 
details and bummers of every imaginable description ; 
so much so that it is very doubtful if at any time 
30,000 men could have been found actually under arms. 
It was the great vice of the Northern Army that nearly 



52 SUEKIDAN. 

or quite one-fiftli must always be deducted from the 
■paper strength ''present for duty" in order to ascertain 
its actual fio;atiu!]; number ; while the rebels, with far 
wiser economy, strenuously kept a musket in the hands 
of every practicable man. 

At the time in question Early had four Divisions of 
Infantry, Rhodes', Gordon's, Ramseur's and Brecken- 
ridge's ; the last was described in their newspapers as 
being, not as was erroneously reported, a Corps, but mere- 
ly an unusually small Division of only 5000 men. At 
this estimate as the number in a representative Division, 
■20,000 will certainly be a reasonable estimate for the 
total of his foot. I have put the rebel Divisions but 
1000 larger than our own, whereas they frequently 
contained four or five Brigades, while only two of 
Sheridan's Divisions comprised three Brigades — the rest 
having but two each. Early also had several unattached 
Brigades of Cavalry, and was reinforced about August 
17th by two more Divisions, namely, Kershaw's and 
Fitz Lee's. On September 1st, after this addition, 
"Druid," the celebrated rebel correspondent of the 
World in Baltimore, gave a long and careful estimate 
of Early's strength, putting it at 35,000 ; it will be seen 
that allowing 5000 for his first allowance of Cavalry 
these figures are the same as those I have given, and 
Druid's estimate was made as small as possible for 
political reasons. Wo were probably the strongest in 
artillery, but our actual fighting strength did not exceed 
that of the enemy, if it equalled it. On September 
3d, Sheridan says, " the difference of strength between 



SHERIDAN. 53 

the two opposing forces was but little, " and a battle 
was then avoided until decided on by the Lieutenant 
General, after a personal inspection of the field. 

On August 10th, however, before the arrival of Ker- 
shaw and Fitz Lee and before the remaining Division of 
the Nineteenth Corps had joined us, we were probably 
60C0 stronger than the enemy, an excess which certainly 
warranted a forward movement. With this view there- 
fore General Sheridan at once concentrated his army 
before Harper's Ferry. 

On this occasion our Urigadc performed the journey 
from Monocacy in a train of cattle cars, waiting all 
night in the rain for our turn, but glad enough to escape 
the march. We took up our old position at Halltown 
until the arrival of cavalry from City Point, and the 
Sixth Corps with very good reason now began to call 
itself " Harper's Weekly. " 



VI. 

TO STRASBURG AND BACK. 

On the IQlh. of August the whole army moved out 
from Harper's Ferry and camped at Clifton, the name 
of a large plantation near Berryville. We marched, to 
our surprise, through the open forests and across the 
fields, scarcely seeing a wagon during the whole day. 
On the 11th we advanced, still diagonally across the 
country, as far as Newtown, leaving Winchester at our 
right. It was expected that the enemy would make a 
stand ; we were therefore under orders to force the 
passage of the Opcquan which covered their front, and 
bring on an engagement by striking for his right and 
rear. Bat he w^as too wary for that, slipping by us to 
the south. On the 12th we came up with him again at 
Cedar Creek, just beyond Middletown. These marches, 
though long and rapid, were made in most admirable 
order and with comparatively little fatigue. Our new 
commander was much complimented therefor, it being 
noticed that the columns did not interfere, and that the 
trains were made subordinate to the troops ; but an order 
issued about this time by General Wright was of great 
value to his Corps. It prescribed ten minute halts 
every hour while on the march, with an hour for dinner 
at two, and a regular time for breakfast and for break- 
ing camp ; it also gave instructions to the various 



TO STRASBDRG AND BACK. 55 

Generals concerning raarching distances between Brig- 
ades and Divisions, and contained directions in regard 
to various minor matters of little consequence in them- 
selves, but uniformity and regularity in the performance 
of which added much to the ease of our journeyings. 
The only fault with the order was its two o'clock dinner, 
breakfast of course being at daybreak. The hour was 
however frequently anticipated if water was found 
earlier. 

The Shenandoah Valley was also a far easier place 
in which to march than Eastern Virginia or Maryland. 
There was little dust in the roads, and moreover we 
were often able to march in the fields where the soft 
turf was a great relief to weary feet, and where frequent 
trees and groves shaded the columns from the sun. The 
supply of water was abundant, and the roads on which 
the tiains moved were generally excellent, the turnpike 
from Winchester to Staunton, eighty miles, being prob- 
ably the best macadamized road in the country ; it 
accommodated two parallel columns of army wagons 
through its entire extent, while outside the fences on 
either side the frequent passing and re-passing of armies 
had worn bare two hard wide paths where marching 
had little discomfort. 

Middletown is on the main turnpike between Win- 
chester and Staunton, fifteen miles above Winchester 
and forty miles or more from the Potomac. It should be 
distinctly remembered that the Shenandoah runs north, 
forgetfulness of which fact has led to curious confusion 
in despatches as well as ideas ; even General Sheridan 



56 TO STRASBURQ AND BACK. 

telegraphed that he was pursuing the enemy "down" 
the Valley — towards the headwaters of the river. 
Below Middletown it flows close under the mouniain at 
the very eastern side of the Valley, and is ten miles 
away from the pike. Just above Middletown the 
Massanuttan mountains, springing up abruptly, divide 
the Valley southward into two, the upper Shenandoah 
and the Luray, the latter being the eastern subdivision 
and the least important. Front lloyal lies at the en- 
trance of the Luray ; Strasburg, two miles beyond the 
entrance of the upper Shenandoah, which debouches into 
the Shenandoah Valley proper midway between Stras- 
burg and Middletown. Cedar Creek flows across the 
very mouth of the upper Valley. The ground is hilly 
on both sides of the Creole, and on its further side we 
now found Early's army. 

Sheridan promptly sent over a skirmish line, which 
engaged the enemy in the usual desultory way. Skir- 
mishing, as it became reduced to a science, depended on 
two general rules : every man must keep concealed as 
much as possible behind trees, logs, fences, buildings, or 
what not, and each party must run upon the approach 
of its opponent with anything like determination. If a 
skirmisher should show himself unnecessarily he stood a 
great chance of getting hit, and if he waited until 
the enemy came within forty or fifty yards, it was ex- 
ceedingly dangerous either getting away or staying. 
The skirmish line was conducted on principles that 
looked to personal safety in a great degree, and was the 
favorite position of the experienced soldier. If however 



TO STUASBUKG AND 15ACK. 57 

the holding of the position was essential, which was 
seldom the case, the men knew it intuitively, and the 
skirmish line required a battle line to drive it. 

On the next morning, the 13th, the enemy had van- 
ished, and the whole army crossed the creek to Stras- 
burg. But that day's march was short, for he had fallen 
back but five miles and was in position at Fisher's 
Hill. This extraordinary natural flistness will be des- 
cribed subsequently. It is sufficient here to say that 
both from the reconnoisance made at this time, and 
from the examination of the stronghold after the battle 
of Fisher's Hill, every one was convinced that it would 
have been folly to attack it at the time in question, for 
an army holding it is more than doubled in strength. 
And Shei-idan promptly came to that conclusion, falling 
back the same day to the camp of the morning on the 
northern side of Cedar Creek. Then followed a day or 
two of manoeuvring with skirmishers and artillery, but 
no enemy appeared in force. At the time of a sharp 
little picquet fight on the 14th we thought the rebels 
were certainly coming ; a subsequent advance by the 
whole skirmish line from right to left, made in splendid 
style in full view of the army, proved that no line of 
battle had as yet left the Hill. Two men from the 
Second Vermont were wounded in this affair. 

Meanwhile the Cavalry Corps was watching the Luray 
f'fy^ at Eett Royal, and on the IGth, Monday, it was des- 
perately attacked by rebel cavalry and Kershaw's 
infantry. Torbert and Merritt held their ground and 
captured two hundred prisoners, from whom the fact 



68 TO STRASBURG AND BACK. 

was learned that Fitz Lee as well as Kershaw was ia 
the Luray with two large Divisions fresh from Ilich- 
moud, and that without doubt on the morrow they would 
force through our cavalry guard and plant themselves 
upon Sheridan's lines of supply. Mosby was also vig- 
orously attacking our trains near Berryville, and ra- 
tions were short alr3ady. The tables were turned like a 
grand transformation scene in a pantomime. Sheridan 
suddenly found himself in the most dangerous position 
of the whole campaign. He had been pursuing an infe- 
rior enemy and inviting a fight, but here was Early in 
both Valleys instead of one, with a force decidedly 
superior to our own, (Grover's Division of the Nine- 
teenth Corps not yet having joined us,) and ten thousand 
rebels already on our flank, pushing for our rear ; four 
days' rations ordered to last five, and great improbability 
about receiving any supplies on the sixth even ; there 
was no more thought of pursuing a fleeing foe from the 
Valley, for we were nearly surrounded ourselves, and 
our capture entire confidently counted on by the 
enemy. 

If wc wished to escape from our predicament it waa 
evident that we must run for it, and we did. The next 
morning, the 17th, we were the other side of Winches- 
ter, making the best possible time for our " base." The 
New Jersey Brigade and a few Cavalry faced about to 
see if any one was coming; in an hour they were scat- 
tered in all directions, the vigor with which they were 
pounced upon showing the disappointment felt by the 
enemy at the escape of the rest of us. On the 18th, at 



TO STKASBUr.G AND BACK. 59 

noon, we halted for "brcakfost" near Clifton, and ate 
what remained of our rations— nothing in most cases — 
as the fifth day of the four was already passing. Then 
we resumed our march reaching the neighborhood of 
Charlestown at 10 p. m., being deluded all the afternoon 
by rumors that the supply train was only three miles 
ahead ; we got a hearty supper at last, though a late 
one. 

Ten miles from Harper's Ferry the whole army faced 
to the South in a good position, on our own ground at 
last. For the past two days officers and men had lived 
principally "on the country. " It would not have been 
so bad living either, if we had not been in such a 
tremendous hurry, for green corn was then excellent 
and plenty, while flour and fruit abounded at the mills 
and about the houses. " Three days rations to last 
four " was always the order on the next advance, and 
the experience of the last two days had taught us how 
to obey the order without suffering, by merely usin<T a 
little foresight. It was a hard system for the citizens, 
but yet severer measures were in store for them. 

We spent the 19th and 20th quietly at Charlestown, 
the precise locality being designated as Welch's or 
Flowing Spring ; a large harvest of guerrillas was mean- 
while gathered in the vicinity ; Sheridan had a barn 
full of them in rear of the Sixth Corps' headquarters. 
On the 21st an affiiir occurred which was only a skir- 
mish, to the army at large, but which was inscribed 
upon the flags of the Vermont Erigadc as the IJattlo CjvfcvC.? 
of Charlestown, 



VII. 

C H A R L E S T O W N . 

On the morning of August 2l£t, the Brigade was 
stationed at the edge of a wood two miles south-west 
from Charlestown. It happened to be quite near the 
picquet line, which described a grand curve around our 
left flank as it covered the army front perhaps half a 
mile from our camp ; the ground the picquets occupied 
was undulating, and there being no high hills or prom- 
inent positions, they were posted on the crest of one of 
a series of rolling ridges in no w:;y superior to others 
in its front. 

The constant reconnoisanccs which our leader had 
indulged in for the last two weeks were a new sensation 
to both armies ; Early now attempted the same method 
of getting information, but discovered nothing at all, 
scarcely any troops excepting our own Brigade being 
displayed on our side, though for a short time a general 
engagement seemed imminent. 

The commencement of the skirmish was startling 
enough. AVhile the army was making preparations for 
the usual Sunday morning inspection, the picquets sud- 
denly broke out into a hasty fusillade, and then falling 
back in confusion were seen making rapidly for camp 
across the fields. Horses were hastily saddled, tents 
struck, knapsacks packed, and lines formed; General 



fUAULliSTOWN. GI- 

Getty and his staff rode through our camp, and dirccted- 
General Grant to move out at once and re-cstahlish the 
picquet line. The order was simple, but its execution 
seemed likely to be difficult, for the line had been 
driven in for nearly or quite a mile in extent along the 
semi-circle of which our position was the centre, and 
whether by a line of battle or a skirmish line was 
entirely unknown, as well as in what direction we were 
to expect the strongest hostile force. Whatever was 
done must be done as an experiment ; fortunately the 
disposition first directed by General Grant led to a 
successful result. 

Without a moment's delay after receiving these orders, 
the Brigade filed out of the woods and into the fields in 
front of our left, in the direction of the heaviest fire ; 
the Third, Fourth and part of the Sixth deployed as 
skirmishers and dashed forward rapidly, while the 
other regiments followed in line of battle more deliber- 
ately on various radii of the curve assumed by the skir- 
mishers. Directly beyond the field in which we formed, 
there was a hill sloping towards us and covered by a 
large corn-field, of so high a growth that a man passing 
through it could not be seen ; it soon appeared that it 
concealed a uniform line of rebel skirmishers extending 
over our entire front, and which had almost reached our 
camp itself. Our advance exchanged volleys with 
them, plunged recklessly into the waving corn, and dis- 
appeared. Presently the grey coats of the enemy were 
seen as they, retreating, clambered over the fence at 
the further side of the field and vanished beyond the 
6 



62 ClIAELESTO^VN. 

hill. The rest of the Brigade excited by the success 
of the charge followed eagerly. The regiments on the 
right halted as they regained the summit of a second 
hill where the picquets had heretofore been posted, for 
the enemy in turn had re-formed on a similar ridge close 
in their front ; but the regiments on the left continued 
to rush forward with more enthusiasm than discretion, 
until General Getty, who had feared such an excess of 
zeal and who in person closely followed the movement, 
succeeded in brino-ino; them to a halt and ordered them 
back to the proper place. He afterwards told the 
writer that his orders were sadly disobeyed that morn- 
ing : that he ordered the re-establishment of the pic- 
quet line, and before he could reach the troops on 
horseback they were half a mile beyond it, in the very 
|\j^j^ face of Ehodes' Division drawn up in line of battle. 
The offence was of a nature easily forgiven, though the 
consequences might have been serious except for the 
personal exertions of General Getty, assisted by Colo- 
nel Hazard Stevens of his staff. The regiments had 
been simply directed to advance, the orders about re- 
establishing the picquet line not having been communi- 
cated to them from Brigade Headquarters. 

As the left of the line withdrew to connect with the 
other regiments, the enemy in turn advanced firing 
heavily, and now a general musketry battle opened 
alono- the whole position. By this time all the Brigade 
had reached the front line, and, beconiing deployed, 
covered the whole mile as skirmishers. The enemy at- 
tacked us from behind trees, ridges, fences, and walls 



CIIARLESTOWX. 63 

with a force that could not clearly be made out, and 
with a vigor that expressed their disappointment at 
finding themselves no better off than in the early morn- 
ing. But the Vermont Brigade, though pressed most 
dangerously, would not give way. The men hastily 
collected rails for feeble breastworks and scraped out 
hiding places in the sandy soil, being determined as 
they said to make a day of it. They recalled the skir- 
mish near Funkstown in the Antietam campaign, when 
they had under very similar circumstances held a skir- 
mish line successfully against repeated line-of-battle 
charges, and the experience of old campaigners was 
manifest in every action. The regiments at the extreme 
right were comparatively little annoyed and had excel- 
lent cover. The Sixth, about the centre of the line, 
was thrown well to the front owing to the contour of 
the ground, and the enemy got very near. It lost more 
than any regiment in the Brigade. One battalion of 
the Eleventh was well protected, while the other was in 
a position entirely exposed to the enemy's fire, the men 
lying in the grass by the side of a large brick house, 
and only able to get together a few rails for shelter, 
while the rebels from behind a stone wall at short range 
were annoying them terribly. It lost both its color frj ^ 
bearers, Sergeant Daniel B. Field, who was instantly 
killed, and Sergeant John C. Pellett, besides many other 
men and officers. As might have been expected, Gen. 
Getty, whose horse had been shot while he was extri- 
cating the left of the Brigade from its previous predica- 
ment, came round on foot to inspect the situation, and 



i(Mv 



<f(M>M 



64 ClIAKLESTOWN. 

as he was conversing with an officer on the loss of 
his favorite animal, a bullet whistled between the two ; 
he merely interrupted his story to say in his quiet de- 
liberate way, " That came pretty near you, Major ! " 

He now authorized us to occupy with sharpshooters 
the house above mentioned, known as the Packett 
I'^irTs-'*.-' House, and which had been hitherto under the care of 

a safeguard. Among the inmates were several young 
ladies, one of whom, tall and beautiful, dressed in 
mourning, and especially noticed for her bravery in 
the trying scenes that followed, was understood to be 
a daughter of Col. Washington, the vendor of Mount 
Vernon, who had been killed in the rebel service. 
These people were all at once notified to leave, and 
could then have done so with perfect safety, but they 
were overcome by the perversity of fear and could not 
be induced to go : though urged, reasoned with, and 
entreated, they insisted upon taking refuge in the cellar 
of the house. Still, as the fight was with musketry 
alone, there seemed to be no danger for them behind 
the heavy basement walls. 

All the windows that faced the enemy were opened 
and filled with picked marksmen. The house at once 
became the focus of fire from the rebels in our front, 
-and the troops on either side now had comparative rest, 
while there was a constant rattle of bullets against the 
walls of the mansion. Continual efforts were made to 
induce the owner of the premises and the women to 
retire to our camp, but in vain. 

Presently, about noon, wc were startled by the report 



. CHARLESTOWN. 65 

of a cannon, and a shell screamed over our heads. We 
understood at once that our position was a great an- 
noyance to the enemy and that the missile was intended 
as a warning for us to withdraw. Of course this in- 
creased our determination to remain, and our answer 
was a vigorous volley from the windows. A second 
shell was tried with no better success. Again and 
again it was repeated, until finally the guns were de- 
pressed so low that one of the chimneys of the house 
was struck and fell with a terrible crash, the bricks 
flying in every direction. At this loud cheers were 
heard from the rebel lines ; our only answer was still 
from the muzzles of our muskets. The eyes of all on 
both sides were now fixed on the mansion, as shell after 
shell plowed through its walls and exploded in its 
rooms. One hole torn in its side was used as a loop- 
hole by some brave fellow, not half a minute after the- 
shell had entered, and the act was cheered vehemently 
by the soldiers without. Twice the interior of the 
house was sot on fire, but the flames were extinguished 
by our men. Several shells reached the basement, for- 
tunately exploding in different compartments irom those 
occupied by the trembling citizens who now ran from 
the house to the rear weeping and shrieking. I have 
understood that the rebels, with their well-knowa' 
tenderness, censured us lor subjecting these females 
to such danger. It is certain, however, that our occu- 
pation of the house was absolutely necessary, and even 
decisive of the day's operations, and that everything in 
our power was done to save this family, well-known as 



w. 



V-'W- 



h (:• 



GG c^ARLESTO^yN. 

rebels, from the weapons of their friends. None of 
them were injured. During this same season Lieuten- 
ant Edward B. Parker of the Eleventh Vermont was 
dragged down and actually killed by blood-hounds in 
South Carolina. If the southerners raise the question 
of comparative humanity they open a wide door. 

At last after fourteen shells had struck the building 
■and its front was spotted all over with the dents of rifle 
balls, a final death-bearing missile exploded in the very 
room occupied by most of our men, killing one and 
wounding others, strange to say the first that had been 
injured in the house. Hitherto in the excitement no 
one had thought of abandoning the position, but it 
was now seen to be prudent to do so ; the order to 

evacuate was o-ivcn-, and the cannon troubled us no 
to ^ 

more. 

But at once the musketry re-opened all along the line 
with renewed vigor, and the battle continued until the 
evening fell. Two mules were employed all day bring- 
ing up ammunition ; the Brigade consumed 50,000 cart- 
ridges. So steady and constantly severe a fire has 
rarely been known ; as the result we regained our lost 
position and held our ground successfully. 

Another incident perhaps worth mentioning occurred 
that afternoon. About six o'clock a few of our officers 
were quietly lunching on the rear piazza of the shattered 
house from bread and milk and sweetmeats furnished by 
the owner who had returned thoroughly subdued, when 
their attention was called to a regiment from another 
Division passing out before the left of our line. Our 



CIIARLESTOVrX. 



67 



men had no disposition to follow, though taunted with 
having spent the day fighting a phantom. The new 
comers marched boldly on, up a somewhat steep ascent, 
but preserving a capital front, until they approached the 
stone-wall mentioned above, when suddenly a grey line 
of rebels rose up, apparently two deep along the whole 
extent threatened, proving incontestibly that we had 
fought all day a full line of battle with artillery to 
boot, and had held our ground with a skirmish-line. 
Of course the valiant regiment which was to show Ver- 
montei's their folly, confronted by the unexpected ap- 
parition and saluted by a thousand rifles, fled in dismay 
without firing a gun, and wc could not help greeting 
their discomfiture with peals of laughter, though the 
occasion might have been serious. 

When the night had fallen, — and a very dark night 
it was, — we began to count our files and compute our 
losses. The Brio;ade sufiered as follows : 



REGIMEMTi 


?. KILLED. 


WOUNDED. 


MISSING. 


TOTAL. 


2d, 


5 


11 





16 


3d, 


3 


15 


1 


19 


4th, 


1 


10 





11 


5th, 


2 


1 





6 


6th, 


7 


31 


1 


39 


11th, 


5 


27 





32 



Total, 23 98 2 123 

Lieutenant-Colonel George E. Chamberlain of the 

Eleventh was shot through the abdomen, almost before 

the regiment was under fire, and while preparations 



4 



()8 CIIARLKSTOWN. 

were making for the first advance against the corn- 
field, lie fell from his horse into the arms of Lieuten- 
ant Dodge, his adjutant, and survived but a few hours. 
Born in St. Johnsbury or its vicinity, a graduate of 
Dartmouth College and of Harvard Law School, he 
was at the commencement of the war in the successful 
practice of his profession at St. Louis. He entered the 
army under the most genuine moral compulsion — im- 
pelled by the force of principle and the feeling that he 
must do what he believed to be his duty, though very 
much against the wishes of his friends. His career as a 
soldier was what might have been expected from such 
antecedents. He was truly sans peiir et smis rcproche. 
Exaggeration is impossible in speaking of one who of- 
fered such remarkable talent upon his country's altar. 
Vermont should and will always cherish his memory as 
that of one of her noblest and bravest sons. While in 
command of Fort Totten near Washington he had mar- 
ried the sister of Adjutant, subsequently Colonel, Gar- 
diner of the Fourteenth New Hampshire Regiment, a 
life-long friend. Colonel Gardiner was killed a few 
days after Col. Chamberlain, at the Battle of the Ope- 
quan, and the bride, a widow and bereaved of 
her only brother, an orphan before, was left in circum- 
stances where sympathy alone remained to cheer her 
life. 

Major Carlos W. Dwinell of the Sixth was also mor- 
tally wounded, and died on the 24th. He was born in 
Calais, Vermont, and entered the service from Glover, 
at the organization of his regiment, being then elected 



CIIAKLESTOWN. 69 

a Lieutcnaiit. He was about twculy-six years of ago 
at the time of bis death, a fanner before he joined the 
army, and a quiet, pains-taking, valuable, officer. 
Though never thrusting himself forward he was always 
a favorite in the regiment and the Brigade, and his loss 
was a severe one. 

Lieutenant Colonel Oscar A. Hale of the Sixth was 
also wounded severely and subsequently resigned in 
consequence. The regiment was now left in command 
of Captain M. Warner Davis. 

The army, having been effectually covered during the 
day by our efforts, marched towards Harper's Ferry 
as soon as it was dark, when the firing ceased. Our 
Brigade still held its place quietly, but every man was 
on the alert and recognized the danger of our situation. 
About 3 A. M. we received the long-expected order to 
withdraw, and without the slightest noise we stole 
away. Assembling near our morning's camp and march- 
ing rapidly, we came up with the rest of the army soon 
after daylight, finding them entrenched at Halltown, 
where they had spent the night spade in hand. 

General Sheridan entered the lines behind us. 



VIII. 
CATNIP LIFE : AND AN EPISODE. 

We were now (Halltown, August 22d) in a position 
where an attack seemed impossible, and for a week we 
enjoyed our proximity to Harper's Ferry with its 
abundance of supplies. The cavalry meanw^hile made 
daily reconnoisances by Brigades or Divisions, which 
the correspondents, on the watch for exciting news, 
dignified with the name of battles, leading the country 
to suppose that we were acting offensively rather than 
defensively. 

On the morning of the 23d an order was received 
pulling us all out of bed and placing the whole army 
under arms at 3 A. M. ; for a wonder it contained a 
reason for the unusual vigilance, a reason of surprising 
lucidity : to wit : " The enemy have been divided into 
two columns, part in our front." With perhaps too 
much precipitation we leaped to the conclusion that 
the other " part " was probably somewhere else : 
neither part made its appearance however, and we 
breakfasted in peace at daylight. 

Finally Early, after having threatened to cross the 
Potomac at Williamsport, where Custer promptly met 
him, fell back from the river, and our army moved out 
to within feeling distance, taking its old position in 
front of Chaz'lestown. 



CAMP LIKE : AND AX EPISODE. 71 

As we marched ihrcucrh that once celebriited village 
we found no traces of the gallows where John Brown 
swung, or the grave where his body is said to lie mould- 
ering, but we remembered both, and our band, as did 
probably every northern band of music that ever 
passed there, reminded the rebellious citizens that " liis 
soul " was still " marching on." 

Torbert with the cavalry went out towards Bunker 
Hill : Early gathered up his army and struck at him. 
Sheridan, as usual present on the field, brought up 
Ricketts' Division and succeeded in developing the 
entire rebel line in the affair reported as the battle of C ^^fv.s.*' 
Smithfield, with, however, little loss on either side. 

Early now retired to the high ground west of the 
Opequan, lying on the pike between Winchester and 
Martinsbursr where ho held a lou^ line facinor east, 
while Sheridan got his army compactly together at 
Clifton facing west, his left near Berryville which 
Crook occupied after a severe skirmish on the 3d of 
September. The remaining Division of the Nineteenth 
Corps had now joined us via Snicker's Gap, and our 
force again efpiallcd the enemy's. 

The campaign as a defensive campaign was now evi- 
dently successful!}^ ended. Early made no movement 
for a fortnight and our position was secure. Maryland 
was covered, while at the same time the enemy could 
not go to the south without our knowledge. The quiet 
was so general that we even began to talk of winter 
quarters. The rebels also appreciated our mastery of 
the situation. An officer's diary, found on the field of 



il CAMP life: and ax El'ISODK. 

the Opequan, under date of Sept. lOth, contained this 
entry, " The Yanks are just playing with us." 

The cavalry however saw no peace, day or night. 
Hither and thither they scoured, over the whole adja- 
cent country, — now creeping cautiously up in the evening 
twilight to the close vicinity of the rebel pioquets, 
passing the long night with bridle rein tied to thumb 
and forbidden even to light the grateful pipe, — then at 
earliest dawn plunging at full gallop over the enemy's 
vldettes and up to the very face of his battle line ; or 
anon hunting the gaps and the forests behind us for 
Mosby and his partisans, who continually attempted to 
torment our rear and flank ; guarding wagons to and 
from the Ferry or snatching up a convoy of the 
enemy's supplies from the Upper Valley, in sight of 
the rebel camp : the careful restless handling of those 
horsemen by our General, whose skill we now began to 
appreciate, has never been surpassed if ever equalled. 

Our own Division also was in some degree an ex- 
ception to the general quiet of the army. When 
we moved out to Clifton we were put in reserve near 
headquarters, and as a consequence we had all the extra 
work to do. For instance, on the night of Sept. 4th, 
the Vermont Brigade dug rifle-pits in the rain from 
sunset till dawn — not objecting in the least to earth- 
works, for we had learned to love them, and even Sheri- 
dan, the ideal of a field fighter, would as soon be with- 
out his ammunition wagons, as his entrenching tools ; 
but it did seem rather hard, after painfully shoveling 
all throuarh the Ion? wet uislit, to march back to our 



CAMP LIFE : AND AN El'ISODK. 73 

old camp while strangers gleefully filed iu behind our 
laboriously constructed breastworks. On another day 
the Second and Eleventh were sent back to Rippon to 
escort in the semi-periodical supply-train ; and other 
similar errands occasionally varied the monotony of 
this long halt. On the Gth the Brigade held its shad- 
ow of a Vermont election : the votes were duly taken, 
counted and returned, the Eleventh, the only regiment 
whose figures the writer recorded, polling 237 votes 
for John Gregory Smith and 2 for his opponent, who- 
ever he was. 

We were now so far up the Valley that our supply- 
train as above suggested had to move with an escort ; 
it came through once in about lour days, usually start- 
ing on its return the same night ; mail facilities were 
therefore limited, but a party of energetic newsboys 
reached camp every afternoon with the morning's 
" Baltimore America??," perhaps obtaining immunity 
from capture by paying occasional toll in kind to the 
guerillas. About this time also a quantity of wall 
tents were received, the regiments being allowed one 
for each, lor the use of the field officers, and a wagon 
being detailed from the Brigade Headquarters train 
for their transj)ortation, the number of wagons allowed 
being at the same time reduced. Sheridan's own head- 
quarters were always much the simplest in the army. 

On the morning of the 13th, Getty's Division moved 
out towards the Opequan for a reconnoisance. The Ver- 
mont Brigade had the advance, the Third and Fourth be- 
ing deployed in front as skirmishers. Sheridan and 
7 



((/IWA-l***"^ 



74 CAMP LIFE : AND AN EPISODE. 

Wright accompanied the column. At ten o'clock the 
Ekirmishers reached the Creek and crossed it at once, 
meeting the rebel picquets, however, but a short distance 
, up the hill beyond. Capt. Cowen's Battery, going in- 

V>r*^^ to position on an elevation on the hither side of the little 

stream, opened fire, the General hoping thus to discover 
the position of the enemy's camps in the vicinity, their 
strength, and other information of that nature. The 
Battery could be plainly seen from the opposite side ; 
the skirmishers who had crossed were showing an oc- 
casional puff of smoke from their rifles, while the rest of 
the Division were massed in a wood, a quarter of a mile 
behind the artillery. The grove was clean and the 
shade was dense ; the men were scattered in groups 
among the stacks of arms, chatting carelessly or playing 
their simple games. 

The enemy presently planted a heavier Battery than 
Cowen's upon a hill on the opposite side of the creek and 
returned his fire ; their first few shells, being fired at too 
high an elevation, passed over his guns at which they were 
aimed, ploughing through and exploding among the 
troops of the Division which lay concealed in the timber. 
Several were wounded, and the lines were formed for a 
removal to some other position, but it being noticed that 
the missiles began to fall short of us, wc were soon con- 
vinced that our situation was unknown to the enemy, 
and in a few minutes the danger was over. 

Among those who were wounded on this occasion was 
Lieutenant Henry E, Bodell of the Eleventh Vermont. 
He was a man of splendid physique, muscular and 
athletic, over six feet high, about twenty-eight years of 



CAMP LIKE : AND AN EPISODE. 75 

age, a farmer, married, and the father of two or three 
children. An unesploded shell had crashed through his 
left leg above the knee, leaving flesh at either side, and 
a most ghastly mass of mangled muscles, shattered 
bones, and gushing arteries, between. As he lay upon 
the gi'ound he he screamed continually, " Cord it ! Cord 
it ! Dont let me bleed to death ! " The first rude tourni- 
quet which a friend attempted to apply broke under the 
twisting of the ramrod, and allowed the spirting torrent 
again to flow. But when the compression was complete, 
he became quiet under the perhaps imaginary impres- 
sion of temporary security, allowing himself to be lifted 
upon a stretcher and borne away to the surgeons and 
their ambulances without a groan. An operation was 
speedily performed. The leg was amputated at the 
upper third, everything being done for the sufferer that 
science and personal regard could suggest and the rude 
circumstances permitted. 

Still there was very little hope. Though his natural 
vigor was in his favor, his very size and the muscular 
strength on which he had prided himself were against 
him, for it was computed that over sixty-four square 
inches of flesh were laid bare by the surgeon's knife. 
And it was also found that his right hand had been 
seriously injured, the bones of three fingers and of the 
middle hand being fractured and comminuted. The op- 
eration already performed had been so severe that it 
was thought best not to attempt the treatment of the 
hand until it was seen whether or not he would rally 
from the shock of the wounds and the amputation. 



76 CAMi" lifk: and an episodk. 

Wc returned to our camp about nightfall ; the jour- 
ney was a terrible trial to the wounded man. An 
ambulance under the most favorable circumstances Is 
hardly a " downy bed of ease," and the jolting this rem- 
nant of a man for miles across the country, over fences 
and walls half torn down, and across ditches partially 
filled with rails, reduced the chances of his life to hard- 
ly one in a thousand, his immediate death being expect- 
ed every moment. But, sustained by stimulants and his 
indomitable courage, at last in the darkness he reached 
the army lines alive. 

Fortunately a house was accessible, and the use of a 
vacant room in its second story was obtained, where 
Bedell was placed on a tick hastily stuffed with straw 
and resting on the floor. And to the surprise of every 
one he survived the night ; a little hope even of saving his 
life was awakened. On the second day after the skir- 
mish the surgeons decided to attempt the re-habilitation 
of the shattered hand. A finger or two were removed, 
the broken bones were adjusted, and the patient rallied 
in good spirits from the second administration of chloro- 
form and shock to the system. 

But his struggle for life was only just commenced. 
After a few days of such rest as his miserable pallet 
could afford, orders were issued, in preparation for the 
coming Battle of the Opequan, that all sick and wound- 
ed should be at once removed to Harper's Ferry, twenty 
miles distant. Army wagons and ambulances were 
therefore loaded with the unfortunates, and an attempt 
was made to transport poor Bedell with the rest. 



CAMP LIFE : AND AN EPISODE. 77 

But although he had previously endured a rougher 
journey, it was while his wounds were, as wounds always 
are for the first few hours, partially benumbed, the 
nerves seeming paralyzed with the very rudeness of the 
injury. Now the torn flesh had become inflamed and 
was havinof its revenge. 

At every motion of the ambulance he groaned fear- 
fully, and it was soon apparent that to carry him a mile 
would cost him his life. He was returned to his straw 
utterly exhausted, all but expiring. 

The army was to move the next morning. The sur- 
geons were forced to decide at once what they would do 
with the dying man. In fact but one course was open, he 
must be abandoned to his fate. True, we were to leave 
him to the north of us, but in the Valley no attempt 
was ever made to cover the long line of our communica- 
tions. Strong escorts guarded our supply trains, and 
for the rest Mosby had free swing. jMoreover, though we 
did not know it at the time, Martinsburgh was thence- 
forth to be our base, instead of Harper's Ferry ; and the 
vicinity of Bcrryville, where we then were, instead of 
being threaded once in four days by our caravans, as we 
expected, was not re-visited by our troops or trains for 
months. The wounded ofiicer was therefore left on hLs 
chamber floor with a soldier nurse, and such hospital 
stores as he would be likely to need before his death. 

We fought the battles of the Opequan and Fisher's 
Hill, " whirling" the enemy up the Valley, for a month 
supposing the Lieutenant dead. The attendant left with 
him followed us immediately ; Bedell himself thought it 



78 CAMP LIFE : AND AN EPISODE. 

best, and it was doubtless necessary, for the country 
swarmed with guerillas, and the system of bloody re- 
prisals engaged in by Mosby and Custer reduced the 
probable life or death of the nurse to a simple question 
of time, had he remained. 

It appears that the family v/ho allowed our officer the 
use of the naked room as a place in which to die, were 
hardly pleased with their guest ; in fact they seem to 
have been utterly destitute of sympathy, and to have 
thought it best for all concerned that he should leave 
this world and them as speedily as possible — and they 
left him at perfect liberty to do so. The promises they 
had so solemnly made us to give the wounded officer 
care and attention, were entirely neglected, and his 
chamber was never entered. Death, horrible in its lone- 
liness and pain, would inevitably have come quickly, 
had not a Good Samaritan appeared. A Rebel among 
Rebels, there was a woman who most nobly proved her- 
self to unite with a tender heart the rarest courage and 
perseverance beyond account. 

Mrs. Bettie VanMetre was a Virginian, born in the 
Luray Valley, scarcely twenty at the time in question, 
and of attractive personal appearance. She had been 
educated in comfortable circumstances, and before the 
war her husband had been moderately wealthy, but now 
his farm was as barren as a desert, not a fence to be 
seen, and nothing to protect had any enclosure re- 
mained ; there was a mill upon the premises, but the 
miller had gone to fight for his country, as he believed, 
and there was now no grain left in the country to bo 



CAMP LIFE : AND AN EPISODE. 79 

ground. Officers who had called at her door, remarked 
the brave attempt at cheerfulness which so manifestly 
struggled with her sorrow, and treated her grief with def- 
erence. For this delicately nurtui-ed girl was living alone 
in the midst of war ; battles had raged around her very 
dwelling ; she was entirely at the mercy of those whom 
she had been taught to believe to be her deadly enemies, 
and who held her husband and brother prisoners in Fort 
Delaware, taken while lighting in the Confederate army, 
the brother being, uutil long after this time, supposed 
to be dead. Her only companion was a little girl, per- 
haps ten years of age, her neice. There this young 
woman and this child were waiting in their anxiety and 
desolation, waiting and praying for peace. 

We should hardly expect the practice of active, 
laborious, gratuitous benevolence under such circum- 
stances, but we shall see. 

It is not known how IMrs. VanMetre learned that a 
Union officer was dying of wounds and neglect in the 
house of her neighbor, but no sooner had she made the 
discovery than all her womanly sympathy was aroused. 
As she would have longed to have her husband or her 
brother treated under similar circumstances, so she at 
once resolved to treat their foe. She would not be 
moved by the sneers and taunts which were sure to come, 
but she would have him at her own house and save him 
if she could. 

The Lieutenant had now been entirely neglected for 
a day or two or longer ; he had resigned himself to death, 
when this good woman entered his chamber and with 






80 CAMP LIFE : AND AN EPISODE, 

kindly words called back his spirit from the mouth of 
the grave. 

She had been allowed to keep an apology for a horse, 
so old and broken-winded and rheumatic that he was not 
worth stealing, and also a rickety wagon. With the as- 
sistance of a neighbor whose color permitted him to be 
humane, she carried the sufferer to her house, and at 
last he found himself in a clean and comfortable bed, his 
wounds washed and his bandages cleansed, and best 
of all, his wants anticipated by a gentle female tender- 
ness that inspired him with sweet thoughts of his home, 
his family, and his life even yet perhaps to be regaineil. 

The physician of the neighborhood, a kind old gentle- 
man, was at once summoned from a distance of several 
miles, and uniting personal sympathy with professional 
zeal, he promised his daily attendance upon the invalid. 
The chance was still but a slender one, so much had 
been endured, and so little vigor remained, yet those 
two good people determined to expend their most earnest 
endeavors in the almost desperate attempt to save the 
life of an enemy. 

And they succeeded. The details of convalescence 
are always uninteresting ; it is enough to say that Bedell 
lay for many days wrestling with death, but at last he 
began to mend, and from that time his improvement was 
rapid. But although Mrs, VanMetre and the good 
Doctor were able to supply the Lieutenant's most press- 
ing wants, still, much more than they could furnish was 
needed for the comfort of the invalid, and even for the 
proper treatment of his wounds. No stimulants coiUd 



CAMP LIFE : AM) AN EPISODE. 81 

lie obtaiued except the vilest apple-jack, and the iieces- 
sity for them seemed absolute ; no clothing was to be 
had, and he was still in his bloody garments of bine ; 
delicate food was needed, but the impoverished Virginia 
larder had none but what was simple and coarse. 

At Harper's Ferry, however, there was a depot of 
our Sanitary Commission, and stores in abundance. 
Some one must undertake a journey thither. It was a 
long day's ride to make the distance and return, and 
success was by no moans assured even if the store-house 
could be reached. It was in the charge of strangers 
iuid enemies. The Lieutenant was too feeble to write, 
and even if he had been able to do so, there was no 
method of authenticating his signature. But a womau 
would be far more likely to succeed than a man, and in 
fact no man would be allowed to pass within the limits 
of the garrison encircling Harper's Ferry. So it came 
about that the feeble Rosinante, and the rattling wagon, 
and the brave-hearted solitary driver, made the danger- 
ous journey, and brought back a feast of good things for 
the sufferer. 

The picquet had been seduced by her eloquence to 
send her to Headquarters, under charge of a guard which 
watched her carefully as a probable spy. The General 
in command had seen fit to allow her to carry away 
such trifling articles as the Commission people would 
be willing to give, and although the chances were 
even that the gifts would be used in building up some 
wounded rebel, still the earnestness and the apparent 
truthfulness of her entreaty for relief overboi-e all scru- 



82 CAMP LIFE : AND AN EPISODE. 

pies; the old fashioned vehicle was loaded with the 
wished for supplies, and the suspicious guard escorted 
the cargo beyond the lines. 

The trip was thereafter repeated week by week, and 
when letters were at length received in answer to those 
deposited by the fair messenger, postmarked among the 
Green Mountains, her triumph was complete, and her 
draft good for anything the Sanitary treasury contained. 
The only lingering doubt was in regard to the enormous 
amount of whiskey the invalid required, ^ Mrs. Van 
Metre, however, explained that it was needed for dip- 
lomatic as well as medicinal purposes. Of course it 
had been bruited about among the neighbors that the 
miller's wife was nursing a Federal officer. In that 
region now abandoned to the rule of Mosby and his men, 
concealment was essential. Therefore the old men who 
had heard of the convalescent must bo taken into confi- 
dence and pledged to secrecy, a course rendered possible 
only by the liberal use of the Spiritus Frumenti. 
Under the influence of such liquor as had not been guz- 
zled in the Valley since the peaceful days of Buchanan, 
the venerable rascals were easily convinced that such a 
shattered life as that of the Lieutenant could not greatly 
injure their beloved Confederacy. 

Five weeks after Bedell received his wounds, our 
army was encamped on Cedar Creek, and Sheridan was . 
in Washington. The Lieutenant greatly needed his 
valise from our baggage wagons. Therefore a journey 
of twenty miles up the Valley was planned, which 
brought our heroine and her little neice to the army 



CAMP LIFE : AND AN KPISODE, 83 

again, with a few words traced by the maimed right 
hand of her charge as her credentials. Our feelings of 
wonder and admiration were most intense, as we learned 
from her simple story, that our favorite who was dead 
was alive again, and felt how much true heroism her 
modest words concealed. She had plainly totally aband- 
oned herself for weeks to the care of a suffering enemy, 
and yet 6he did not seem to realize that she deserved 
any credit for so doing, or that every woman would not 
have d'ine as much. We loaded her with the rude at- 
tentions of the camp, and she spent the night comfort- 
ably (from a military point of view) in a vacant tent at 
G.eneral Getty's headquarters. The desired valise wa.9 
'then at Winchester, but she obtained it on her return. 

The nest daybreak found us fighting the Battle of 
Cedar Creek. Amid the mounting in hot haste and the 
thronging confusion of the morning's surprise. General 
Getty found time to commit his terrified guests to the 
care of an orderly, who by a circuitous route conducted 
them safely out of the battle. 

While our army was near Berryville in September, 
some of General Getty's staff-officers had called upon 
Mrs. Van Metre, and had persuaded her to prepare for 
them a meal or two from the army rations, there being 
a magnetism in female cookery that the blades of the 
staff were always craving. lu her visit to the army 
just mentioned, she learned that one of those casual ac- 
quaintances had fallen at the former battle of the Ope- 
quan, and that his body was still lying somewhere on 
that wide battle-field. Seizing the earliest opportunity 



84 CAMP LIFE : AND AN EPIS0D15. 

after her retaru, she personally searched all through the 
territory between Opequan Creek and Winchester, amid 
the carrion and the graves, until she found at last the 
rude board with its almost obliterated inscription that 
fixed the identity of the too scantily covered corpse. 
Shocked at the sight, for the rain had exposed the limbs, 
and the crows had mangled them, she procured a coffin, 
and laborers from Winchester, and had the renkains de- 
cently interred in the cemetery there at her o'^n ex- 
pense. Then she addressed a letter to his friends giving 
them the information which she possessed, and they sub- 
sequently recovered the relics, thanking God and their 
unknown benefactor. 

We heard nothing further from the Lieutenant fot\) 
months. We eventually learned, however, that after a 
long period of such careful nursing, varied only by 
the weekly errand of Mrs. Van Metre to Harper's 
Ferry for letters and supplies, the prudent Doctor at 
last gave his consent that Bedell should attempt the 
journey home. Armed now with a pair of Sanitary 
crutches, he doubted not that he could make his waj, if 
he once could reach the Union lines. But the difficulty 
of getting to Harper's Ferry cost him much anxiety. 
Though at various times forty guerillas together had 
been in and about the house where he lay, the watchful 
care of his protector had thus far kept them in ignor- 
ance of his presence. This journey, however, was likely 
to prove even more difficult to manage. At length one 
of the toddy -drinking neighbors, while relating his triala 
and losses, chanced to mention the seizure by our troops, 



CAMP LIFE : AND AN EPISODE. 85 

of a pair of his mules mouths before, and the fact that a 
negro had since seen them in the Martinsburgh corral. 
A happy thought struck the Lieutenant ; he at once as- 
sured the old gentleman that if he could only be placed 
(what there was left of him) in safety at the Ferry, the 
mules should be returned. The promise might perhaps 
be considered rash, seeing that Martinsburgh was twen- 
ty-five miles from Harper's Ferry, under a diflFerent 
commander, that it was very decidedly unusual to re- 
store property seized from the enemy for government 
use, that the chattels were probably long ago far up the 
Valley, and especially that Bedell could not have, in 
any event, the faintest shadow of authority in the pre- 
mises. But the old man jumped at the offer and the 
bargain was struck. 

It was decided that Mrs. VanMetre should accom- 
pany the Lieutenant home, both for his sake as he was 
vet months from recovery, and for her own, as she had 
now lived for years in unwonted destitution and anxiety, 
while a quiet, comfortable home was thenceforth assured 
to her by her grateful charge until the return of peace ; 
and who knew if she might not in some way regain her 
own husband, as she had restored another's ! 

So the party was made up and the journey commenc- 
ed. The officer was carefully hidden in a capacious 
fiirm-wagon, under an immense heap of straw, and 
though two marauding parties were met during the day, 
the cheerful smile of the well-known jolly farmer dis- 
armed suspicion. The escape was successful. The 
clumsy vehicle drew up before head-quarters at 
8 



86 CAMP LIFE : AND AN EPISODE. 

Harper's Ferry, and Bedell, saluted once more by a sen- 
tinel as he defied his hat to the flag he had sufiered for, 
headed the procession to the General's room. 

The unique party told its own story. The tall Lieu- 
tenant, emaciated, staggering on his unaccustomed 
crutches, the shrinking woman, timid in the presence of 
authority though so heroic in the presence of death, and 
the old Virginian aghast at finding himself actually in 
the lion's den, but with the burden of an anxious lons- 
ing written on his wrinkled face, — each character so 
speaking, the group needed only this simple introduc- 
tion : " Greneral, this man has brought me in, and wants 
his mules ! " 

General Stevenson, warm-hearted and sympathetic, 
comprehended the situation at once. He made the 
party seat themselves before him and tell him all their 
story. He fed them at his table and lodged them in his 
quarters. He telegraphed for a special leave of ab- 
sence for the officer, and secured free transportation for 
both him and his friend, and finally, most surprising of 
all possible good-fortune, he sent the venerable charioteer 
to JMartinsburg, the happy bearer of a message that 
secured the restoration of his long-eared quadrupeds. 

On the next day the Lieutenant and Mrs. VanMetre 
went on by rail to Washington, where of course every 
one treated them kindly, and gave them all possible 
assistance. When the paymaster had been visited and 
all preparation made for their journey north, it was de- 
termined to make an effort to secure the release of the 
rebel prisoner. So it came about that the quasi-widow 



CAMP LIFE : AXD AX EPISODE. 87 

imd the crippled officer called together upou Secretary 
StautoD. The busiest of all busy men found time to 
hear their stoi*y, and despite the " stony heart " at- 
tributed to him by his enemies, he was deeply affected by 
the touching tale, and the ocular demonstration of its 
truth in the person of the wounded soldier. Tears rolled 
down his cheeks as he gave the order requested, earned 
by acts that few women would have dared ; and the 
couple with glad hearts, crossing the street to the office 
of the Commissary General of Prisoners, presented the 
document to the clerk in charge to be vis^d. But here 
another difficulty arose. Some one had blundered, and 
on searching the records of the office the required name 
could not be found. The cruel report was made that 
no such prisoner had been taken. 

Nevertheless, Mrs. VanMetre's information had been 
direct and her conviction of some mistake was sure. 
They laid the case before General Hitchcock, then in 
charge of that office, and again the story was argument 
enough. With trembling hands the old gentleman en- 
dorsed the order : " The commanding officer at Fort 
Delaware will release any person the bearer may claim 
as her husband ! " 

The prison barracks were quickly reached. The com- 
mandant caused the thousands of grizzly captives to be 
paraded. File after file was anxiously, oh how 
anxiously ! scanned by the trembling woman, and when 
the circuit was almost completed, when her sinking 
heart was almost persuaded that death instead of cap- 
ture had indeed been the fate of the one she loved, she 



88 CAMP LIFE : AND AX EPISODE. 

recognized his face despite his uukempt hair aud his 
tattered garments, and fell upon the neck of her hus- 
band as he stood in the weary ranks. 

A few days more and the two united families were at 
rest in Bedell's New England home. 



IX. 

OPEQ^UAN. 

On September 10th the Fifth Vermont was broken 
up, the larger portion of the original members being 
mustered out ; a small veteran organization remained, 
commanded by Captain Addison Brown of the Fourth, 
assisted by Lieutenants detailed from other regiments of 
the Brigade. 

The time of service of the Fourth expired September 
19th. The regiment went through the Battle of the Ope- 
quan on that day, and some of its losses were among the 
men who should have been at the time en route for Yer- 
mont. Colonel, afterwards Brevet Brigadier Gen, George 
P. Foster remained in command of the portion of the 
regiment left in the field, which retained its name, as 
in the case of the other regiments of the Brigade, with- 
out the consolidation resorted to in troops from other 
States under similar circumstances. 

Although we had at last successfully (juieted the 
demonstrations of the enemy, which had excited so great 
apprehensions at times during the last three months, 
it had also become apparent that the rebels would not 
leave the Valley nor abandon their still threatening atti- 
tude toward Maryland and Pennsylvania until they were 
driven away. Lieutenant General Grant therefore paid 
our army a visit for the purpose of ascertaining the pre- 
cise situation of affairs, and deciding on the question of 



90 OPEQCAN. 

aa active campaign. He found Sheridan eager for a 
battle, and in his official report says : " he " (Sheridan) 
" explained so clearly the location and condition of the 
two armies, and pointed out so distinctly the method he 
should pursue if left at liberty, that I saw no instruc- 
tions were necessary except the simple words, Go in ! " 
He further says that he asked if the movement could not 
be commenced on the following Tuesday, the visit being 
on Saturday. Sheridan answered that he would be 
ready to move on Monday at day-break. 

Grrant returned Saturday evening. On Sunday a 
supply train arrived, five days' rations were distributed, 
the same wagons removed the sick and the superfluous 
baggage, and at night we knew that we were ready for 
some serious movement which the uncertain morrow was 
sure to bring. 

Gen. L. A, Grant, having obtained a few days leave 
of absence, and not crediting the rumors of an advance, 
went to Plarper's Ferry with the train, where he spent 
the next day listening to the sound of the cannon, and 
anxiously expecting news from the battle-field. His 
absence left Colonel Warner of the 11th in command of 
the Vermont Brigade ; a West Point graduate, but 
with little previous field experience, he developed abili- 
ties on this occasion that for the remainder of tlie war 
gave him a Brigade of his own, and deprived his regiment 
of his valuable services. 

It will be remembered that the Opequan Creek was 
between the two armies, four or five miles to the west of 
us, but diligently guarded by Early. A portion of his 



OPEQUAN. 91 

army was near Bunker Hill, ten miles north of Winches- 
ter ; the rest occupied the hills and plains, covering that 
city. Kershaw's division, it was said, had just disap- 
peared up the Luray Valley — leaving us with a prepon- 
derance of about 4,000 men. 

Our movement commenced at 3 o'clock Monday morn- 
ing, September 10th, Getty's Division having the ad- 
vance, the Vermont Brigade being the last in the 
Division. Striking directly across the country, at first 
in the dai-kness, we presently reached the main road 
from Berryville to Winchester, and moved down it to 
the crossing of the Opequan. This stream is consider- 
ably below the level of the adjoining country, and the 
road on its further side keeps the low level of the stream 
for a mile or more, winding through a long tortuous 
wooded ravine, our unobstructed passage whereof was 
for the time a mystery. It seems that Wilson's 
Division of cavalry had already cleared the way and 
was then holding desperately a position that it had 
gained with considerable loss, but which proved a most 
admirable one in which to deploy our line of battle. 

As we filed out of the ravine which toward the last 
was lined with wounded cavalrymen, we found Sheridan, 
his headquarters fixed on a conspicuous elevation, per- 
sonally superintending from the commencement the 
operations of the day. It was to be our first battle 
under his command, as well as his first independent 
battle ; the troops were hitherto destitute of all enthusi- 
asm for him ; fortunately, however, no impression save a 
favorable one had as yet been received, it being universal- 



92 OPEQUAX. 

ly conceded that lie had so far handled his army hand- 
somely. And it was with great satisfaction that we 
found him in this early twilight at the very front, and 
under the fire of the enemy, carefully attending to de- 
tails which we had been accu.stomeil to see more cele- 
brated conunanders entrust to their staff". 

Our Division promptly relieved the cm'alrv and 
formed its line facinjf; west, the Third Briifade which 
was in advance going to what was to be the extreme 
left of the infantry line, resting on Abraham (^reek ; the 
First Brigade following, took up its position on the 
right of the Third, and our own Brigade filled the re- 
maining distance between the First and the road on 
which we had reached the battle-field. It had been in- 
tended to place us in two lines, but the unexpected ex- 
tent of the ground we had to cover forbade that formation. 
We were just on the hither edge of a narrow fringe of 
wood that concealed us from the enemy ; the Sixth Ver- 
mont was thrown forward as a skirmish liTie perhaps 
one hundred yards to the further side of the little forest, 
and at once engaged the enemy's skirmishers. 

Near us in the road at our right was a reliel field 
work taken by AVilson in the night. The hill on 
which it was situated commanded the country in 
both directions, and it was already occupied by a bat- 
tery engaged in feeling the enemy, which was answered 
vigorously, many of the rebel shell plunging over into 
the troops as they successively came up the road. 

Our Division thus formed in single line was the only 
Division on the south or left of the road. The Third 



OPEQUAN. 93 

Division, llicketts', followed us and prolouged the line 
across aud ou the north of the road, placing its two 
Brigades in two lines. The First Division, Russell's, 
came next, and was draw^n up behind the Third as a 
third line or reserve, also somewhat overlapping the 
right of our Brigade. 

Then to our surprise no more troops appeared, and 
our corps was alone confronting the enemy. There were 
tAvo or three anxious hours, but Early was engaged in 
hurrying up his detachment from Bunker Hill, which 
this delay gave him ample time to do, and made no as- 
sault. It was said that the Nineteenth Corps being 
ordered to follow the Sixth, had filed into the road be- 
hind our wagon train, instead of keeping closed up ou 
our column. It is certain that with this loss of time, 
from whatever reason it occurred, we lost the opportun- 
ity of attacking the enemy in detail, and gave him time 
to prepare for our reception. It was noon before the 
Nineteenth Corps had reached its place and was formed 
in three or four lines on the right of the Sixth. 

Our men during the forenoon had been resting, sit- 
ting or lying on the ground. When at last the disposi- 
tion was completed and the signal gun was fired, they 
sprang to the ranks, and the line advanced. Particular 
instructions had been received to the effect that the 
road was to give the direction of attack, and that the 
guiding regiment was to be the left regiment of the 
Third Division, just across the road from our right. 

In passing through the bit of trees in our front, 
which was filled with underbrush, our line was ueces- 



04 OPEQUAX. 

sarily thrown somewhat into confusiou. When we 
emerged from the wood and the ground over which we 
must make our attack was developed, the prospect was 
appalling. The hill gradually sloped away before us, 
for a quarter of a mile, to a long ravine, irregular in its 
course, but its windings extending either way as far as 
we could see. The ascent beyond it was in most 
places sharp, and the enemy held its crest in force, per- 
fectly commanding with musketry and artillery the long 
slope down which we must pass, though the acclivity on 
the further side of the hollow was so steep a's to actual- 
ly present a cover from their fire — if it could once be 
reached. 

When this fearful prospect opened the line involun- 
tarily halted, and the men threw themselves, on the 
ground as was their wont when under fire. Our own 
Brigade was properly waiting for the movement of the 
guiding regiment which lay across the road a little to 
our rear, and which could not be prevailed upon to stir. 
To add to the peril of the situation, the road, instead of 
continuing straight on, as seems to have been expected, 
here made a bend to the left so that our original orders 
could not be obeyed without an amount of obliqueing 
that would have resulted in demoralization ; from this 
cause our own Brigade was soon afterwards thrown into 
temporary confusion, and the Third Division was pre- 
sently so disorganized as to be unable to resist a 
counter-charge made against it by the enemy. 

At length the commander of the Brigade at our right 
crossed to our side of the road and urged us to set his 



OPEQDAN. 95 

men the example. Col. Warner took the responsibility, 
bi'ought the Brigade to its feet, corrected the align- 
ment, and gave the command to advance, which was 
promptly obeyed. The Third Division followed and the 
line was again in motion. But our point of direction 
was lost, for we were in advance of our guides, and 
when it was seen that owing to a curve in the ravine 
before us the cover on its further side could be reached 
much sooner by obliqueing sharply to the left, we took 
that direction almost by common consent, and left the 
road-side. 

Our vrhole Brigade, every man at' the top of his 
speed, making for the coveted protection of the hill be- 
yond us, plunged pell mell into the hollow. The troops 
at our right and left were lost sight of. The ravine was 
of some considerable width and its bottom was marshy, 
being the head waters of a little branch of Abraham 
Creek, The steep slope on its further side was covered 
with evergreens sis or eight feet high. To our intense 
consternation, as we reached its swampy bottom, we saw 
at our right, at short pistol range, at least a full regi- 
ment of the enemy drawn up in line near the point 
where the road crosses the hollow, in anticipation of 
our taking precisely the course we did, and firing coolly, 
as rapidly as they could load, directly along our line, 
thus enfilading us completely. Its position is in- 
dicated on the plan. The slaughter was for a 
few moments murderous. We could not retreat, 
for we should again enter the fire that had been mowing 
us down in the charge, now cut ofi" by the hill before us. 



96 OPEQUAX. 

We therefore floundered on, our coherence entirely lost^ 
entered the clusters of ever^jreens throucrh which the 
cruel bullets whistled fearfully, and at last, a confused 
mass at best, those of us who escaped unhurt reached 
comparative safety under the very crest of the hill, and 
high above the deadly hollow. 

We now opened fire for the first time during the day, 
in the direction of the regiment or brigade that had so 
frightfully thinned our ranks, but they were almost out 
of reach from us, as well as we from them. At this 
moment, however, the Third Division approached them 
and they tiled away. 

When this was discovered, and after gaining breath, 
our own advance was resumed, but with little pretence at 
order. Emerging upon the plain before us at the summit 
of the hill we had climbed, we again turned obliquely 
towards the road and charged upon a long breastwork 
filled with rebels, in our immediate front. The retreat 
of their comrades from the ravine apparently demoral- 
ized them ; many fled, many more were captured ; in fact 
as we clambered over the parapet it seemed as if the 
prisoners who then surrendered exceeded in number 
our entire Brigade. 

But we did not stop to count them or to care for 
them. The principal position of the enemy in this por- 
tion of the field had now been gained, and we rushed 
onward toward the distant spires of Winchester, with 
shouts and cheers, now thoroughly excited by our un- 
expected success. A battery of the enemy was before 
us but it limbered up and retired as we advanced. Several 



OPEyUAN. 97 

times it turned, fired a rouud of canister, and resumed 
its flight. At our left the other Brigades of our 
Division were seen moving on in our support. At our 
right an unfortunate ridge now rose, parallel with our 
line of advance, along the top of which ran the road so 
often referred to, and which hid our friends from view ; 
we could only hope that they were equally successful, 
and push wildly forward. A point was reached proba- 
bly three-fourths of a mile beyond the entrenchments 
where we had captured the prisoners, when luckily a 
ditch running across our path suggested cover and a 
pause. This ditch was reached only by the colors of 
the Fifth, with perhaps two hundred men from the vari- 
ous regiments. Exhausted with running they opened 
fire as vigoi-ously as they could, but a line of rebels was 
seen gradually collecting in their front, as the fugitives 
were rallied, and the position held by our troops was 
presently dangerously threatened. And now to their 
dismay, the Brigade on the higher ground to their left 
saw reason for retiring and called to them to follow. 
What it could mean they did not know, but it seemed 
prudent to withdraw, if only for the purpose of keeping 
up the connection. An officer sent to investigate soon 
reported that at least a Division of the enemy were far 
behind their right in an orchard which they supposed 
had been carried by the Third Division. Orders were 
given therefore to fall back to the line of the army fol- 
lowing the low ground on the left, thus keeping under 
cover of the hill at the right, the enemy meantime being 
absorbed in their movement against Ricketts ; and thus 
9 



98 OPEQUAN. 

the detachment successfully escaped from its dangerous 
position and re-formed with the balance of the Brigade 
near the works we had carried, .being as before on the 
right of the other Brigades of our Division, connecting 
with and at first even in front of the support which was 
put in to meet the emergency. 

We afterwards leai'ned that a break had taken placo 
on the right which for a time seemed likely to result in 
complete disaster. The report in our Corps was, that 
the Nineteenth, advancing through a long stretch of 
forest and at first successful, had afterwards been re- 
pulsed, and fled in disorder, many of the fugitives even 
going back to the Creek, and that our Third Division 
had been checked soon after we lost sight of it, presently 
becominnj more or less involved inthcflio;ht oftheNine- 
teenth Corps. On the other hand Gen. Emory, command- 
ing the Nineteenth Corps, in a letter published in the 
World, which was fortified with affidavits, insisted that 
the break began at the right of our Third Division, 
which led to the turning of his left and the consequent 
retiring of his Corps. The official reports disagree as 
much as the letters of the correspondents, who of course 
reflected the opinions of the several headquarters to 
which they were attached, and who created considerable 
ill-feeling by the discrepancies in their accounts, and by 
their insinuations ; the truth is probably between the 
claims of both, and the real cause of the enemy's tem- 
porary success seems to have been the unfortunate bend 
in the road above mentioned, which interfered with and 
destroyed the symmetry of our first advance. Our 



OPEQUAN. 99 

Third Division obliqued to the left as it moved against 
the enemy, following the order to guide on the road, 
(there were few or no fences in that vicinity) and so left 
an interval between its right and the Nineteenth Corps, 
which appears to have gone in impetuously and with 
little order ; the enemy presently made a counter-charge, 
and, luckily for them, struck the gap with a heavy 
force, crumbling oiF the troops on either side of it, and 
causing the troops on each side of the interval to think 
that the others had let the enemy through. The frontline 
of the Nineteenth Corps was almost entirely disorganized, 
and was replaced by the second line, while only the 
right of our Third Division was broken up, its left with 
our own Division merely retiring a short distance under 
orders, as was necessary in order to keep a continuous 
front. 

At the critical moment General Wright, who was for 
the day in command of the Sixth and Nineteenth Corps, 
though (as he says) " it was too early in the battle to 
choose to put in the reserves, still, seeing that the fate 
of the day depended on the employment of this force," 
promptly ordered in the First Division with two bat- 
teries ; it marched gallantly down, with its full Division 
front, to the very face of the enemy, relieving the Third 
Division, which, re-forming, presently took up its posi- 
tion still further to the right, where the interval had be- 
fore been left. Sheridan held back General Upton's 
Brigade of the First Division until it could strike the 
flank of the charging column of the rebels, when it made 
the most remarkable and successful charge of the day ; 



1 (^0 OPEQUAN. 

completely breaking up the rebel aHsault, and permitting 
our shattered line again to knit itself into coherence. 
General Upton was there wounded and the brave unos- 
tentatious Russell, the idol of the Division he command- 
ed, was shot dead, while personally employed restoring 
the broken line. 

The two hours following were spent in re-arranging 
the troops, issuing ammunition, and making dispositions 
for another advance. The Sixth Vermont, skirmishers 
through the morning, had properly allowed us to pass 
them in our first charge, but subsequently moving for- 
ward, accidentally joined the Third Division, where they 
gained great credit during the remainder of the day. 
The whole position now held by the Sixth Corps was 
that occupied by the enemy at noon. Getty's Division 
had been entirely successful, and had completely wiped 
out everything that had confronted it ; the A'^er- 
mont Brigade in particular met as determined resistance 
as any portion of the line could have done, besides pass- 
ing through the terrible enfilading fire in the ravine, 
and not only drove back the enemy and held its ground 
firmly without assistance, but actually captured hun- 
dreds of prisoners, fairly finishing the battle in its front ; 
the rest of the army not being equally fortunate, we 
afterwards had it all to fight over acjain. 

Captain, afterwards Major Templcton, an exceedingly 
gallant officer of the Eleventh Vermont, had during the 
previous campaign excited considerable amusement in 
the Brigade by constantly carrying in his hands on the 
march a camp-chair, from the comfortable elevation 




PL.VS OF THE BXTTLB OF 

T HE O P F. Q T" -V N- . 

Idth September. »S6*. 



OPEQUAN. 101 

whereof he was wont at the halts to smile serenely, in 
his rather boisterous way, at the ungainly rest obtained 
by other otfieei-s who were forced to sprawl themselves 
out upon the ground for rest. The exigencies of his re- 
treat from the ditch mentioned above proved too great 
for the Captain's equanimity and he reluctantly aban- 
doned his cherished chair to the tender mercies of the 
foe. When we formed, his loss was at once seen and he 
was ridiculed unmercifully, but he successfully redeemed 
himself by recapturing his furniture in the subsequent 
advance. 

The Rebel line was now contracted, taking up a new 
position nearly two miles from that which they first at- 
tempted to hold, and occupying some old works sur- 
rounding the northern and eastern sides of the city of 
Winchester. Regular skirmish lines were thrown out 
on both sides and the artillery planted in advantageous 
positions. 

^[eanwhile General Sheridan was making his disposi- 
tions for a combination which proved decisive. General 
Crook's command had crossed the Opcquan further to 
the north, and had been kept in reserve behind the 
.Nineteenth Corps. As soon as our lines were firmly 
settled in the position secured by our first attack. Crook 
was put in motion to encircle and double back the rebel 
left. He was assisted by Averill's and Merritt's 
cavalry, and was entirely successful. Their detour was 
somewhat long and the day was fast waning, but the 
movement was hurried to the utmost, being supervised 
by Sheridan himself who found it utterly impossible to 



102 OPEQUAN. 

conduct a battle from a " commanding eminence " in the 
rear, as he at first attempted to do. As soon as he saw 
that the plan was in process of successful execution, he 
pcrfonally inspected the rest of his army and th& 
enemy's position, riding at a terrible speed along tho 
whole of our extended sTcirmish line, wheeling out from 
the storm of bullets only as he reached our own 
Division at the left of all, and pausing as he passed be- 
tween the Brigades to exclaim, with eloquent profanity^ 
" Crook and Avcrill arc on their left and rear — we've- 
got 'em bagged, by ! " 

The order to advance was soon received, and the 
line moved forward ; not with the promiscuous disorder- 
ly rush of the former charge, but steadily and deliber" 
at3ly, aligning carefully by Brigades and by 
Divisions, we swept forward into the battle. The Ver- 
mont Brigade was fearfully enfiladed by a battery on 
our left, but every man kept his place in the ranks,, 
and promptly obeyed Col. Warner's frequent orders. 
The Brigade headquarters flag was flying in the very 
battle line. The Second Division was still on the left,. 
then the First and Third, the Nineteenth Corps still' 
further to the right, and Crook's command on its flank- 
ing tour in the distance. 

The lino reached easy musket range of the enemy 
and opened fire. The artillery rattled up behind us 
and joined in the tumult. The batteries were nearer 
the front that day than we had ever before seen them, 
and General Sheridan's wish, expressed in the morning 
to Col. Tompkins, our Corps Chief of Artillery, that he 



OPEQUAN. 103. 

might " see some dead horses before night " was amply 
gratified. At the time of the repulse of the first attack, 
Stevens' battery was ordered back by a staff ofiiccr 
who feared its capture, but Col. Tompkins held it to 
its work, pistol in hand, though the rebels were but 
two hundred yards from the muzzles of the guns. 

On this second advance it again fell to the lot of th& 
Vermont Brigade to be thrown forward beyond the- 
rest of the line of battle of which it formed a part. 
Wo entered a corn field with stalks full ten feet high, 
and could do nothing of use unlil we reached its fur- 
ther limit, where it was bounded by a tomato garden, 
at the further side of which was a strong paling fence. 
Behind this fence we had halted when we opened fire. 
The enemy was in plain sight but a short distance be- 
fore us and the men worked at their guns with the 
diligence of desperation. We were still enfiladed by 
the battery at our left, and we saw the Brigade on our 
right withdraw a short distance for better shelter behind 
the crest of a little hill. It seemed to us less dangerous 
to remain, and we clung to our position though losing 
rapidly. Major Buxton of the Eleventh was here shot 
dead, a bullet passing through his brain. Two or three 
years afterwards some lunatic created a sensation in 
Vermont by assuming the gallant major's name and 
title. The attempt gave a terrible shock to those who 
had seen the Major's remains, for his death was so sud- 
den that he did not stir from the position in which he 
was lying with his face to the ground among his men. 

Presently the line of the enemy before us was seen 



104 OPEUUAN. 

to waver and melt away : many had fallen, others 
could not endure the deadly fire, and at last wo caught 
a vision that redeemed Sheridan's assertion. The whole 
left of the enemy rushed past us toward our left in the 
wildest disorder. Crook and Averill had done their 
duty. Merritt, Custer and Lowell were madly urging 
the pursuit. They caught up with the mass of fugitives 
directly in front of our position, taking flags and 
cannon and thousands of prisoners. 

The Brigade rose as one man, rushed at the fence 
that had partially protected us, and as it fell, passed 
over it into the open plain. The whole army was seiz- 
ed with the same impulse and strode joyfully forward, 
a huge crescent, with waving flags and wild hurrahs. 
The scene was wonderful. The infantry kept a rapid 
march and the alignment seemed complete. " Beau- 
tiful as an army with banners," is a figure full of 
meaning and its power was then completely realized. 
And in that joyful mood, conscious of strength and of 
victory, we closed upon the city as the evening fell. 
An attempt was made by the enemy to rally in some 
forts which were built by General Milroy in 1862, on 
a hill west of the city, but it was soon abandoned, and 
they fled in confusion up the Valley pike. 

Our brigade was halted at the edge of the town 
near a vineyard covering perhaps an acre of ground, 
filled with grapes, ripe and abundant. The day's work 
had allowed no time to eat or drink and the opportun- 
ity thus ottered was improved to the fullest extent. 
While we were thus regaling ourselves with the 



OPEQUAN. 105. 

luscious fruit General Sheridan came by, and was 
saluted with the wildest cheers. Since the time of 
McClellan it had been a point of pride with the Bri- 
gade not to cheer its officers ; but on this occasion 
tumultous hurrahs came unbidden from the bottom of 
every heart and conventional restraint was forgotten. 

The Battle of the Opequan was the first occasion in 
which the new administration of affairs presided over 
by Lieutenant General Grant completely satisfied and 
compelled the approval of the many soldiers of the 
Vermont Brigade who were thoroughly wedded to the 
love of the old rajime. 

Meanwhile the cavalry had dashed furiously through 
the city, and on towards Newtown, but it was presently 
recalled, and the army bivouacked for the night on the 
South side of Winchester near Abraham's Creek. A 
night pursuit was physically impossible after such a 
day, but on the morrow we followed the enemy twenty- 
five miles to their fortress at Fisher's Hill. 

The battle of the Opequan was an entire and complete 
success. It was fought between two armies nearl}' equal 
in size, and in a country for the most part free from trees 
— a "fair field fight." The enemy were at first surprised 
by Wilson, but concentrated in time to repulse the first 
general attack, losing however their best position. 
Then they were outflanked and almost surrounded on 
an open plain, hardly escaping with the loss of 4,400 
prisoners, five cannon, many flags, nine generals (six 
wounded and three killed), 5 000 men killed or wound- 
ed, and much material captured. Their wounded were 



106 OPEQUAN. 

left in our hands, and the Rebels never revisited the 
lower Shenandoah Valley. 

Gen. Wright in his official report spoke of the bat- 
tle in the following terms : 

The battle of the Opequau affords a rare example 
among the many hard fought fields of this war in which 
all the arms of the service co-operated with full eflFect. 
Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery had their full share in 
the operations of the day, and their movements were in 
entire harmony. The artillery of this Corps alone ex- 
pended eighteen wagon loads of ammunition and all 
with good efiect upon the results of the conflict. All 
my batteries were effectively engaged. 

Sheridan telegraphed General Grant at 7.30 p. m., 

as follows : 

I have the honor to report that I attacked the forces 
of Gen. Early on the Berryville pike at the crossing of 
the Opequan, and after a most stubborn and sanguinary 
engagement which lasted from early in the morning 
until 5 o'clock in the evening, completely defeated him 
driving him through Winchester. * * * * * * 
The conduct of officers and men was most superb. They 
charged and canied every position taken up by the 
rebels from Opequan Creek to Winchester. The rebels 
were strong in numbers and very obstinate in their 
fitrhtin^. I desire to mention to the Lieutenant Gen- 
eral commanding the army, the gaUant conduct of 
Generals Wright, Crook, Emery and Torbert and the 
officers and men under their command. To them the 
country is indebted for this handsome victory. 
Philip H. Sueridan, 

Maj .-Gen. Commanding. 

At 1 the next morning he also sent the following 
dispatch to General Stevenson at Harper's Ferry : 
" We fought Early from daylight till between 6 and 7 
o'clock. We drove him from Opequan Creek through 
Winchester, and beyond the town. * * * 



OPEQUAN. 107 

We have just sent them whirling through Winchester, 
and we are after them to-morrow. This army behaved 
splendidly. 

P. H. Sheridan. 
The next morning the New York Tribune expressed 
the relief which this victory had brought to the loyal 
heart of the nation, in an editorial, commencing with 
the followino; stirrino; words : 

" Hurrah for Phil. Sheridan ! And for his gallant 
army ! And for the Union which they fought for on 
Monday ! And Tuank God for the great victory 
which they won ! 

" We care not to repress the grateful exultation which 
we can but feel over this splendid success. It went 
with a thrill to the heart of every loyal man who heard 
it yesterday morning, and with a chill to the heart of 
every traitor in Richmond and in New York. Con- 
sciously or unconsciously it struck every one as the 
turning point of the great Virginia campaign, and it 
flashes upon us as the First Victory in the Valley of 
the Shenandoah which hitherto has been to us a Valley 
of Humiliation and almost of Despair. We remember 
no Victory in this War which has more suddenly 
and joyfully awakened the sympathies of the North; 
nor one which has been welcomed with a more enthusi- 
astic delight." 

The casualties of the Vermont Brigade were as fol- 
lows : 



EGIMENTf 


'. KILLED. 


WOUNDED. 


MISSI>0, 


total. 


2d 


3 


::9 





32 


3d 





2G 


4 


30 


4th 


1 


15 





16 


5 th 


6 


22 





28 


6th 


5 


46 





51 


11th 


8 


85 


6 


99 



Total, 23 223 10 556. 



•X08 OPEQUAN. 

Major Charles Buxton and Captain Dennis Duhigg 
of the llth were killed. Snmner H. Lincoln, Adju- 
tant, afterwards Colonel, of the Sixth was wounded 
early in the day ; Capt. James E. Eldridge of the 
Eleventh was also wounded severely, and Capt. Darius 
J. Safford slight' y. 

On the next day Col. Warner was assigned to the 
command of the First Brigade of our Division which 
he held with credit to the close of the War, becoming 
a Brigadier General presently ; its commander. Gen. 
Wheaton, succeeded the lamented Russell in the com- 
mand of the First Division. Gen. Grant being still 
absent, Col. Foster of the Fourth Vermont now com- 
manded our Brigade. The Eleventh was thencefor- 
ward under Lieutenant Colonel (afterwards Colonel) 
Charles Hunsdon, its Battalions being conmianded by 
Majors Walker and Sowles. 



X. 

FISHER'S HILL. 

The battle of the Opequan just described, and 
the wonderful day at Cedar Creek on the I9th of Oc- 
tober, hereafter to be described, are much the best 
known of Sheridan's Valley battles. But amona his 
soldiers the idea was current, and still prevails, that 
the battle of Fisher's Hill, with its unusual amount of 
careful reconnoitring and skillful manoeuvring, result- 
ing in almost incredible success, displayed even more 
military genius than either of the first named fields. 
The men who for two days faced those bristling fortres- 
ses, wondering if the dislodgment of their garrison could 
be possible, can never sufiiciently applaud the skill that 
won them. The surpriseof the enemy was here complete, 
though accomplished in broad daylight, and requiring the 
expenditure of much time and great strength in travers- 
ing the long and laborious dis^tances required. The 
plan was matured a day and a half before its execution, 
and its success depended almost as much upon a cor- 
rect estimate of the morale of the hostile armies, as 
upon the strategic skill displayed in perfecting the 
intricate dispositions involved in the plan of assault, 
and executing the scheme just as it was originally 
conceived. The reason why this battle has faded almost 
entirely from the memory of the average reader, and has 
even been almost entirely overlooked by our historians, 
10 



110 fisher's hill. 

is simply its wonderful and most extraordinary result. 
It was gained with so little loss that the overwhelming 
nature of the defeat inflicted is forgotten. 

On the morning after the battle of the Opequan our 
whole army was in vigorous pursuit of the enemy be- 
fore daybreak. Evening found us halted in his presence. 

Thirty miles south of Winchester, the noble Valley 
being now narrowed from twenty miles to five, and the 
River still clinging to the mountains on its eastern 
side, a line of hills stretches across the country from 
the Shenandoah to the Blue Ridge (which is here call- 
ed the Little North Mountains ) ; broken hills, now re- 
ceding and anon advancing as they follow the windings 
of a little stream, or mountain brook, called Tumbling 
Run, on their hither side, which wanders from the last 
named mountains easterly into the Shenandoah, hills high 
and commanding, crowned with earthworks and artillery, 
separated by rugged ravines which were blocked up 
with slashed and fallen timber, every rod of hill and 
hollow well guarded by rifle pits and abattis and bay- 
onets. These hills and the stream run at right angles 
to the pike by which we were marching up the Valley 
to the South, and they are confronted on this side of the 
brook in part by wooded elevations and in part by level 
meadows. Beyond them in the centre of the Valley 
rises Round Top, a curious lofty height, almost a moun- 
tain, entirely covered with forest, save where a wide 
path had been cleared directly over its summit to fit it 
for a signal station, in which capacity it commanded 
most admirably every regiment of Early's army at its 



fisher's hill. Ill 

immediate foot, and e( pally admirably every company 
of Sheridan's force and every mile of turnpike as far as 
AVincliester, except as woods scattered here and there 
might mask the ground. 

Along the hills beneath this natural watch-tower the 
Rebels had drawn up their lines. In order to reach 
them Tumbling Run must be crossed, and the heights of 
Fisher's Hill must be wearily climbed in the face of 
their muskets and artillery. On their right was the 
Shenandoah, on their left the Little North Mountains, 
carefully picqueted as far as the enemy supposed a 
goat could climb. The position had been selected years 
before by Stonewall Jackson as the strongest in the 
Valley, and was by him entrenched and used as a con- 
stant rallying place, or sallying place, as the occasion 
mio-ht sugijest. A half written letter found in the works 
after we had carried them, spoke of the Rebel army as 
secure in a " haven of rest." 

Fisher's Hill was thus always ready for rebel occu- 
pation, and had been confronted once before by Sheri- 
dan, who then deemed it prudent to withdraw. Now, 
however, he was at liberty to strike the enemy accord- 
ing to his best discretion, and had also yesterday in- 
flicted upon them a terrible blow. His army was eager 
in pursuit ; the rebels were disheartened in retreat ; we 
were satisfied that our commander was energy per- 
sonified, though we yet feared an order for some reck- 
less assault, scarcely dreaming that it was possible even 
with the heaviest loss to carry the Hill ; the enemy 
were still ready to fight with determination, as long as 



112 fishek's hill. 

they were sure that they were not out-generaled, but 
were infected with a want of confidence in their leader 
sure to ruin them if they saw any cause to waver. All 
these considerations Sheridan appreciated and laid his 
plans accordingly. 

On the evening of September 20th the Nineteenth 
Corps was placed in the front along the meadows 
whence the turnpike sprang across the massive sloping 
bridge of masonry, and up the steep ascent of the hills 
in the possession of the enemy, the village of Strasburg 
being their headquarters. An interchange of cannon 
shot proved that our day's march was ended, and our 
passage up the Valley was to be here disputed. The 
rest of the army filed into the woods north of the 
village, and bivouacked for the night. At break of 
day Ganeral S'leridan ra ide a careful reconuoisance and 
comui'jnced his dispositions. 

The Sixth Corps was to extend the line to the right 
of the Nineteenth across the Valley, and Crook's com- 
mand, or, as it was usually called, the Eighth Corps, 
was again, as at the Opoquan, to perform the part of 
the hammer that breakcth the rock. The cavalry had 
been sent up the Luray Valley, in order, if possible, to 
reach the enemy's rear at Newmarket, and cut off his 
retreat in the event of our success at Fisher's Hill ; one 
small Division under Averill alone remained, which 
was of no assistance on account of the impracticable 
nature of the ground. Our loss in killed and wounded 
at the Opequan had been probably a little greater than 
Eirly's, and the absence of our cavalry more than 



fisher's hill. 113 

counterbalanced the prisoners we had taken there. 
Kershaw's Division of the enemy had retired into the 
Luray before the former battle, but any superiority 
which we may have had on this occasion, was far over- 
matched by the wonderful natural fortification occupied 
by the rebels, which was being strengthened each 
minute by the vigorous use of the shovel and the axe. 
It was evident that a direct assault must fail. Bravery 
alone could never gain us the upper Valley. 

After hours of study the brilliant scheme was laid 
which gave us victory without its usual price. It is 
said that Wright alone of all Sheridan's lieutenants 
regarded the project fixed upon as feasible, but our 
commanding General was " sure he could make it," 
relying greatly on his confidence that Early's brave 
army, distrustful of its leader, was on the watch for 
just such a catastrophe as finally befel it. 

At 10 A. M. on the 2 1st our movement began. 
The Sixth Corps, filing off to the west, took its posi- 
tion on the prolongation of the line already held by 
the Nineteenth Corps, on this side of the Run. These 
two Corps covered a front of three miles or so, seizing 
such position and protection as best they could, while 
continually annoyed by the hostile batteries, and the 
sharpshooters on the enemy's skirmish line. However, 
most of us were under cover, hidden in the forests, or 
lying behind some crest of hill, or crouching beneath 
the walls with which the country is there striped. 

A railroad, bereft of its rails, and in a terrible state 
of dilapidation generally, ran from north to south 



114 riSHER'S HILL. 

through the centre of both armies, piercing the hills 
with deep hewn cut?. Its lofty bridge across the brook 
had been burned years before, and its road-bed was 
guarded by artillery. Its vicinity was held by the Ver- 
mont brigade durino; the afternoon, and the constant 
whizzing of the shell from side to side over and around 
us was much more enlivening than agreeable. The 
bearer of Colonel Foster's headquarters flag was here 
killed by a sharpshooter's bullet ; the only man killed 
in the Brigade at Fisher's Hill. 

About a mile to the right of the railroad rose Flint's 
Hill, the highest elevation to be found on our side 
of the Run. The enemy, aware of its value to us, 
had occupied it, and instead of leaving it when they 
abandoned the remainder of the hither side of the 
stream, they evinced an unexpected determination to 
remain in possession of it. Twice or thrice during 
that afternoon fierce volleys of musketry had been 
heard from that direction, the meaning of which was 
discussed but not understood, the prevailing impression 
being that the enemy were trying to drive in our skir- 
mishers, or perhaps making a sortie against our flank. 

Suddenly just at dusk our Brigade was called to at- 
tention and hurried oft' at a double quick by the right 
flank. As we advanced, the firing all at once became 
sharp and sharper, until it was evident that no picquet 
line engagement was in progress. Presently we were halt- 
ed in a wood just behind the rattling musketry, and in 
an admirable defensive position. It was now quite dark. 
No other idea occurred to us than that the rebels were 




PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF 
FISHER'S HILI. 
22d September, 1864. 



fisher's hill, 115 

assaulting and driving in our skirmishers ; and as the 
men threw themselves on the ground for rest after their 
race, and for cover, muskets were cocked and all pre- 
parations made to give any troops that might appear 
over the crest on which we lay a reception worthy of 
our reputation. But the tumult gradually ceased and 
a staff officer came in from the front, Lieutenant J. A. 
Lewis of the Eleventh Vermont. He was holding a 
handkerchief to his face to staunch the blood where 
part of his chin had been shot away by a bullet, but 
managed to say in explanation, " Warner has carried 
the hill ! " It was well for ^yarner and his Brigade 
that they succeeded, for if they had failed and come back 
upon our rifles we should inevitably have fired upon them 
in the darkness. His Brigade had been assigned to the 
task which several times already had been unsuccess- 
fully attempted ; and by a dashing charge with fixed 
bayonets, under the eyes of all his commanders, he had 
won the position, driving a large body of the enemy 
across the brook to their main lines. Our Brigade 
had been hurried over to support him if necessary. 

Thus the day's work ended with the accomplishment 
of its principal object; the coveted hill was gained, 
though Warner's Brigade lost more than the total 
casualties in the army on the morrow ; the gallant 
Colonel was recommended for a Brevet in Sheridan's 
first dispatch, and received it promptly. 

Our own Brigade soon felt its way up to Warner's 
right and into the open field. Entrenching tools were 
soon brought forward, and the night wore toilsomely 
away. 



116 fishek's hill. 

As the day broke on the 22d the scene was a surpris- 
ing one. We had reached our then position through 
the woods, after night-fall, and now we were behind a 
solid entrenchment, traced boldly on the Irout of Flint's 
Hill, curving gracefully to the rear as the ground fell 
away on our right, and overlooking a beautiful field 
sloping down to the brook. The rebels were in plain 
view before us, scarcely half a mile distant across the 
stream, occupying a long entrenchment similar to our 
own, though with abattis in its front, which crowned 
a hill that brought them even above our level. After 
a half hour evidently spent in wondering at the mush- 
room growth that confronted them they fell to work 
diligently and laid down their shovels only to com- 
mence their flight. 

It soon became apparent that the location of our Bri- 
gade was a fortunate one in enabling us to see and 
understand the operations of the day that had just 
dawned. Two rifled batteries promptly moved up and 
took their places in our line. Several others were halt- 
ed just behind the top of the hill, where they were hid- 
den from the view of the enemy ; and presently 
Generals Sheridan, Wright, Crook, Emory, Averill, and 
others rode up with their stafi's and orderlies. A 
telescope was planted upon its tripod in the field in 
front of our earthwork. General Crook after a hasty 
examination of the country to the distant right, rode 
rapidly away. The other officers continued to study the 
rebel line, waiting for the decisive moment. General 
Sheridan, especially, spent hours that day, sweeping 



fisher's hill. 117 

with his glass to the right aod the left, evidently beut 
on understanding precisely the task before him ; oc- 
casionally pausing to remark to some by-stander, or to 
mutter to himself, " I'll get a twist on 'em, d — n 
'em ! " 

During the forenoon General Ricketts moved his 
Third Division of the Sixth Corps in two lines from the 
woods behind our right, sweeping in grand display over 
the enemy's skirmishers, and finally halting at a very 
oblique angle to our line some distance in our front. 
The demonstration caused a a;reat commotion amono- the 
rebels who evidently expected an immediate assault at 
that point where a receding sweep of their lines made a 
sharp angle ; and they bent all their energies toward 
building a battery which should command this new im- 
posing battle line. Their attention was thus entirely 
diverted from our position, and better yet, they were led 
to suppose that this Division was our extreme right 
flank, (" mistaking Ricketts' Division for our turning col- 
umn,'' Sheridan says ) and paid no attention to the vital 
point which Crook was aiming for. To add to their as- 
surance of this view of our movements, Gen. Averill's 
cavalry ostentatiously picketed their horses on the very 
summit of a bare knoll on Ricketts' right and rear, as 
any soldier would infer, for the purpose of covering the 
outside of the army. 

Meanwhile here and there through the trees behind us 
we could catch glimpses of the shining musket barrels of 
Crook's command, as they wound forth on their long 
and silent journey. Equipped only with rifles, cartridge 



118 fisher's hill. 

boxes and canteens, keeping in the forests with the ut- 
most care, avoiding every possibility of observation from 
the lofty natural watch-tower behind the rebel lines, 
these five thousand men crept from Strasburg to the dis- 
tant mountain side. Our excitement momentarily in- 
creased as we came to understand the game, but our 
only relief was in watching the interchange of danger- 
ous compliments between the skirmishers on either side 
of the brook below us. A large tree on the rebel side 
was particularly noticed as puif after puflF of smoke was 
seen to rise from its branches, until Capt. Lamb, a 
grey-haired Rhode Islander who commanded half a 
dozen ten-pound Parrotts just at our left, deliberately 
and at the first attempt sent a screeching shell plump 
through its branches. A dozen ' Johnnies ' dropped in 
great haste to the ground and scampered up the hill. 

As the hours passed ' slowly by, Gen. Sheridan with 
more and more anxiety peered through his powerful tele- 
scope at the distant mountain side. Gen. Crook with 
his command of mountaineers had meanwhile reached 
the Blue Ridge and was clambering up its steep acclivi- 
ties ; no path, no guide — ordered simply to climb high 
enough to clear the enemy, then stealing south 
until they should overlap his flank, to dash down the 
mountain and strike him like a thunderbolt. The point 
aimed for by their tedious circuit was perhaps four miles 
from Flint's Hill ; the enemy's left bending fiir to their 
rear, and making Crook's undertaking much more diffi- 
cult. 

It was almost four o'clock when he at last attained 



fisher's hill, 119 

the coveted position and formed his men for the assault. 
The attack began at once. Just as we saw his glitter- 
ing line emerge from the forest, our Brigade leaped over 
our breastworks and swept ofi' by the left flank into the 
woods ; we went down near the bank of Tumbling Run, 
the rebel canister and grape meanwhile rattling through 
the trees about us, and waited for the result of the 
flanking movement. All our batteries that had been 
massed behind Flint's Hill galloped madly through the 
openings left for the purpose in our parapet, wheeled in- 
to position in the beautiful field, and answered the dis- 
tant cheer that announced the commencement of the 
charge with the roar of thirty cannon. Crook swept on 
without a halt. The rebel signal officer afterwards said 
that his Corps seemed to burst from the clouds. The 
enemy supposed them to have come over the mountains. 
The paralj'zing murmur that they were outflanked crept 
througli the rebel lines. The men lost heart for battle 
and the bravery of the ofiicers was of no avail. And 
now Crook had nearly reached the position so long con- 
fronted by Ricketts, who, without waiting to efiect a 
junction, advanced his line against the steep ascent, 
rushed upon the fort that had been built in his fiice that 
day, and took it at the first attempt. Staff" ofiicers 
shouting the glorious news galloped wildly to the left 
along the line, sending brigade after brigade to join the 
charge, and thus the whole army gradually swung into 
place like machinery, swelling the grand advancing wave. 
The Vermont Brigade at the commencement of its ad- 
vance met a shallow mill-pond that had not been noticed 



120 fisher's hill. 

in the forest, in some way floundered through, rushed up 
the hill to the rebel works, then turned to the left, and 
in a confused delirious mass, hurried on as best it 
might after the scattered enemy. Guns were fired 
wildly into the air and re-loaded as the soldiers ran ; 
captured cannon were wheeled about and discharged at 
the panic-stricken foe in mad salute for our victory ; 
General Sheridan with long black streamers waving 
from his hat joined our own division, exclaiming, " Run 
boys, run ! Don't wait to form ! Don't let 'em stop ! " 
and when some answered, " we can't run, we' re tired 
out, " his reply was perhaps unmilitary but certainly 
under the circumstances judicious, " If you can't run, 
then holler ! " and thus the wild pursuit was continued 
until we reached the turnpike where it crosses the very 
summit of Fisher's Hill. The Eleventh Vermont almost 
alone of the troops engaged in the charge retained a 
respectable organization, and this was owing to a peculiar 
artillery flag it carried, easily distinguished among the 
others, of yellow silk with large crossed cannon. General 
Crook sent this regiment across a deep ravine to drive 
away a few of the enemy still remaining on the hill be- 
tween the turnpike and the Shenandoah. After this had 
been accomplished it returned by a long detour to the 
road, perhaps a mile beyond where it had left it, and 
waited for other troops to come up ; the first man that 
appeared was Col. Foster leading the balance of the 
Vermont Brigade in line of battle to the south. 

The enemy had now vanished into the forests and it 
was dark. While the various brigades were disentang- 



fisher's hill. 121 

ling themselves, and the men were seeking here and 
there their respective regimental colors, the Nineteenth 
Corps appeared, from whose front near the pike the 
enemy had fled demoralized, almost before they com- 
menced their advance. The troops of the Sixth Corps 
were drawn aside into the field and made a hasty sup- 
per, while the Nineteenth Corps passed them in pur- 
suit of the enemy with General Sheridan at its head. 
The Sixth Corps followed the Nineteenth closely, Gen. 
Wright being again for the time in command of both 
Corps, making twelve miles during the night ; Crook's 
command was obliged to return to Strasburg for its 
knapsacks and did not overtake the army for several 
days. 

During the night Sheridan found time to pencil the 
following dispatch : 

" 6 Miles From Woodstock, ) 
11.20 p. M., Sept. 22. i 

Lieutenant General Grant : 

I have the honor to announce that I have achieved 
a signal victory over the army of General Early at 
Fisher's Hill to-day. I found the rebel army posted 
with his right resting on the north fork of the Shenan- 
doah, and extending along the Strasburg Valley west 
toward the North Mountain, occupying a position 
which appeared almost impregnable. After a good 
deal of manoeuvring during the day Gen. Crook's 
command was transferred to the extreme right of the 
line on North Mountain, and then furiously attacked 
the left of the enemy's line carrying everything before 
him. While Crook was driving the enemy in the greatest 
confusion and sweeping down behind their breastworks, 
the Sixth and Nineteenth Army Corps attacked the 
11 



122 fisher's hill. 

rebel works in front and the whole army appeared to 
be broken up. They fled in the utmost confusion. 
Sixteen pieces of artillery were captured, also a great 
many caissons, artillery horses, etc. I am to-night 
pushing on down {sic) the Valley. I cannot say how 
many prisoners I have captured, nor do I know either 
my own or the enemy's casualties. Only darkness has 
saved the whole of Early's array from total destruction. 
My attack could not be made till four o'clock in the 
evening which left but little daylight to operate in. 
Philip H. Sheridan, 

Major-General." 

And again from Woodstock : 

" Sept. 23d, 8 a. m. 

* * * " I do not think there ever was 

an army so badly routed. * * * I pushed 
on regardless of everything. * * 

P. H. Sheridan." 

The results of this battle can be briefly told. The 
carrying the strongest position in Virginia with the 
loss of scarcely two hundred men ; the utter rout of 
Early's army which made no stand in all the eighty 
miles through which it was promptly pursued ; the 
capture of 1500 prisoners, all the enemy's camp equip- 
age, many colors, (on an elegant stafi" here captured our 
Brigade flag was afterwards mounted), and twenty-one 
guns, being all the artillery he had save three pieces 
which were planted near the pike ; and what was perhaps 
most important of all in view of the scene to occur a 
month hence at Cedar Creek, the conversion of the 
whole army to the belief that General Philip H. Sheri- 
dan is not only a brilliant cavalry rider, an impetuous 
fighter, and the impersonation of warlike energy, but 



fishee's hill. 123 

that he is also a careful, deliberate, pains-taking sol- 
dier, thoroughly versed in tactics and strategy, whose 
fiery zeal is controlled by most unusual discretion, and 
whose njasterly skill curbs a spirit of the hottest mettle. 
In short that he is, as General Grant has frequently 
declared, competent to command all the armies of the 
United States against any enemy. 

To show that the importance of this victory is not 
exaggerated above, I again quote from Gen. Wright's 
report. " The annals of the war present perhaps no 
more glorious victory than this. The enemy's lines, 
chosen in an almost impregnable position and fortified 
with much care, had been most gallantly carried by as- 
sault, capturing most of his artillery, a large number of 
prisoners, and sending his army ' on the run,' in the 
most disorderly manner, and all this, from the impetu- 
osity of the attack, with an absurdly small loss on our 
part." 

No members of the Vermont Brigade were killed, 
excepting the color-bearer above mentioned, who fell 
on the day before the battle; and the number of wounded 
"was so small that no report of them was made. 



XL 

A MONTH OF CAMPAIGNING. 

On the morning of September 2od, we halted at 
Woodstock, twelve miles south of Strasburg. Here, to 
our great surprise, we were overtaken at daybreak by 
a supply train which had followed close at our heels 
through the night pursuit ; and it caught us just in time 
for no issue of rations had been made since the day be- 
fore the Battle of the Opequan. It was welcomed as 
a new proof of Sheridan's foresight, and at noon with 
haversacks well-filled again, the shrunken sides where- 
of had been eyed with great suspicion at the conclusion 
of our last hasty supper-hour, we resumed our march 
up the Valley, Averill being now in advance with his 
little Cavalry Division. 

He soon reported that he had found two divisions of 
infantry in his front near Mount Jackson. Sheridan, 
disbelieving his story, promptly relieved him from his 
command and sent him back to Martinsburg, replacing 
him by General Powell. Meanwhile the afternoon was 
nearly lost and we camped beyond Edinburg, this side 
of Averill's infantry simulacrum. 

Early in the morning of the 24th we again advanced, 
(the commencement of my sentence reminds me of a 
somewhat profane use of a sacred couplet, then com- 
mon in our army, 

■■ Knrly. niv (ior1 witliont delay. 
We liaste to seek tliy face — ") 



A MONTH OF CAMPAIGNING. 125 

and soon passed through Mount Jackson. Here were 
sever;! 1 barracks, built long before by General Shields, 
now used as hospitals, and full of wounded rebels ; the 
only one of them which was empty was most malicious- 
ly set on fire by some stragglers from our column, and 
entirely destroyed. 

A few miles beyond this village all of Early's force 
remaining coherent were deployed in a strong position 
in order to check us and enable their train to get away. 
A little way behind their line the road was to be seen 
winding down the mountain's side, by which Torhert 
had been ordered to cross over from the Luray Valley 
to the enemy's rear. He had not yet been heard from, 
and was anxiously watched for, but the combination 
failed. 

Meanwhile the ground on which the rebels were 
drawn up was so strong and their line so extensive 
that we were compelled also to go into line of bat- 
tle. The Nineteenth Corps being pushed around to 
their extreme left however, th<'y incontinently with- 
drew, and we hastened after at our best gait. 
Now commenced a wonderful race. When we 
reached the elevation which they had abandoned, 
we found a high plateau, nearly level, the road run- 
ning through its centre, the country on each side 
somewhat hilly, but still favorable for our use — and 
we also saw the retreating rebels in the distance driving 
their trains before them. It was a beautiful day, clear 
and cool ; every one at once perceived the situation of 
affairs. The Sixth Corps took the left of the road, 



126 A MONTH OF CAMPAIGNING. 

Getty in advance, his Division in parallel columns by 
brigades, so that the division line could at any time be 
formed in three minutes, the Vermont Brigade nearest 
the pike. The Nineteenth Corps was on the right of the 
road, its front in line of battle, a much more difficult, 
though more imposing and methodical mode of marching. 
Skirmishers were crowding on in front of all, who kept 
up a constant fusilade with the enemy's rear guard ; twa 
batteries also were with the advance, now galloping 
along the road to some high point far in front of the 
skirmish line, and now unlimbering and opening a 
furious fire upon the fugitives. Thus we chased the 
enemy through Newmarket to Sparta, twenty-five miles 
that day, thirteen miles without a halt and with the 
rebels in our sight. The Nineteenth Corps across the 
pike was a mile or two behind us when we gave up the 
pursuit. The enemy were too anxious to escape and we 
saw them no more. 

The next day, the 25th, we encamped at Harrisonburg^- 
while the cavalry, which had now joined us, went on to 
Staunton. We passed a very pleasant week in this 
vicinity, although rations were rather scanty. Our sup- 
plies were brought up by a series of supply trains or 
caravans, from Martinsburg, furnishing three days' 
rations once in four days. For the rest every man took 
care of himself, and there was no suffering. Many of 
the regiments thenceforward were followed by cows as 
well as pack-mules. 

On the 29th a march of seven miles was made, ta 
Mount Crawford, the farthest point we reached. De- 



A MONTH OF CAMPAIGNING. 12T 

tachments were sent out to the numerous mills in the 
vicinity and a large supply of flour obtained. Major 
SafFord, a practical miller from Morristown, Vt., ground 
and brought into camp a full day's ration for the entire 
Division. On the next day we returned to Harrisonburg 
and resumed our old line at the east of the village. On 
the 2d of October, five hundred picked men from the 
Vermont Brigade, under an enthusiastic staiF-ofiicer, 
scoured the adjacent mountains all day long, hunting 
for stragglers and guerillas, but finding little save cattle 
and apple-brandy. 

We were now for two or three weeks entirely cut ofi" 
from news of the war elsewhere, and the camps were 
full of the most improbable stories. Intelligence of the 
capture of Richmond and Jefi" Davis seemed as reason- 
able as the story of Grant's utter and overwhelming de- 
feat, and we had our choice of the probabilities, for both 
of these stories were retailed with the utmost positive- 
ness. Once in a great while we managed to obtain a 
Richmond paper, our only reliable channel of infor- 
mation. Perhaps we might have been furnished regular- 
ly with them, but for the fact that stage communica- 
tions were for some reason interrupted. 

On the 6th of October we commenced our return 
down the Valley. No enemy could be found by the 
most diligent search and the question of supplies was be- 
coming a serious one. There was not enough transpor- 
tation in the Department to feed us at that distance from 
our base, and moreover the guerillas were attacking 
every train. A Provisional Division, organized as train 



128 A MONTH OF CAMPAIGNING. 

escort, had rather a hard time of it, marching night and 
day, besides fighting ahiiost as continually. 

After a long day's march, we at last halted for the 
night on meeting a supply train, which was again ex- 
ceedingly apropos. Gen. Grant came up with this 
escort and resumed the command of our Brigade. 

About noon on the 8th we reached Strasburg, whence, 
though the day was very cold, many of us improved the 
opportunity to resume our acquaintance with Fisher's 
Hill, under more favorable circumstances than on the 
former occasion. At this time the cavalry turned round 
'Jdxy. ■ t^r'V^'- ^* Tom's Brook to wipe out Rosser, the new Cavalry 
General from Richmond who was expected to deliver 
the Valley but didn't, losing instead everything he had 
with him that went on wheels. 

The march from Harrisonburg was memorable on ac- 
count of the sight of burnino; barns, mills, and stacks of 
hay and grain. Pillars of smoke surrounded us through 
all of the three days, and though no houses were destroy- 
ed, everything combustible that could aid the enemy 
during the coming winter was burned, and all cattle and 
slieep were driven away. 
. ^,, On the 10th the Sixth Corps moved round the Mas- 

sanutten to the vicinity of Front Royal in the Luray 
Valley, a point that General Augur was trying to 
reach by re-constructing the railroad through Manassas 
Gap. The attempt was subsequently given up, however, 
and Sheridan's array was supplied by the Baltimore 
and Ohio Railroad throughout the winter. 

On the 13th the Corps was ordered to move at day- 



A MONTH OF CAMPAIGNING. 129 

light, the ratious issued the previous clay to hist us to 
Alexandria. It was reported that transports were to 
take us thence to meet Sherman in North or South Caro- 
lina. We marched some fifteen miles to the ford of the 
Shenandoah near Ashby's Gap, where, just as the lead- 
ing regiments were commencing to cross, and when 
Wright and Getty were already in the stream, scouts 
reached us bringing orders from General Sheridan, and 
we bivouacked without crossing. At our dinner hour 
that day we had halted near a somewhat dilapidated but 
unmistakable country school-house. It did not appear 
clearly what feeling of impropriety or inappropriateness 
it excited among the soldiers, but suddenly and by a com- 
mon impulse of wrath the brigade seized upon it for 
culinary purposes. It may have been on account of the 
importunity of hunger, rather than any indignation 
against the symbol of primary education, as a small 
country store near by soon suffered the same fate, 
though in a different way, the material of one being used 
to cook the contents of the other. 

The next day, by a long and rapid march, again 
through Newtown and Middletown, we rejoined Sheri- 
dan's army and took up the position which we held until 
the Battle of Cedar Creek. It was fortunate for him 
and the country that he took the responsibility of re- 
taining us in his command. He was led to do so from 
the fact that the enemy, now again at Fisher's Hill, had j <_t 
made a threatening recouuoisance ; but as no further 
demonstrations appeared, Sheridan improved the present 
season of quiet by making a personal inspection of his 



130 A MONTH OF CAMPAIGNING. 

new route to Washington, leaving us temporarily under 
command of General Wright. As there was still some 
apprehension of an attack we were under arms at four 
A, M., daily — but the precaution seemed needless and the 
order was presently discontinued. 

On the 16th of October, the Sixth Vermont was mus- 
tered out, thus completing the term of service of all the 
regiments of the original Vermont Brigade. As in the 
case of the other regiments, the Sixth still maintained 
its organization under Lieutenant Colonel Sumner H, 
Lincoln. 



XII. 

CEDAR CREEK. 

The now historic stream which gave- its name to the 
remarkable battle which is the subject of the present chap- 
ter, is a shallow, rapid river, perhaps thirty yards wide, 
flowing across the Upper Shenandoah Valley just where 
it debouches into the Lower Valley, which it will be re- 
membered, from Cedar Creek to the Potomac unites the 
width of the Upper Valley and the Luray. The 
Shenandoah here sweeps round the base of the rocky 
and precipitous Massannutten mountain, hugging its 
foot and turning to the east with a sharp right angle, at 
the very apex of which it receives the waters of Cedar 
Creek, coming from a prolongation of the new direction 
of the larger river. The turnpike from Winchester to 
Staunton crosses the Creek about a mile above its junc- 
tion with the Shenandoah. Middletown is two miles 
this side of the bridge ,- Strasbui'g two miles beyond it. 
Hills, perhaps three hundred feet high, rise irregularly 
on each side of the Creek. The army was facing south ; 
Gren. Crook's command lay on the left of the turnpike, 
occupying several hills which overlooked the junction of 
the two streams, their picquets protecting the left flank 
of the army, though without watching sufficiently the 
fords of the rivers. The Nineteenth Corps was across 
the pike on Crook's right, on other hills along the 
hither side of the Creek ; the Sixth Corps was next in 



132 CEDAR CREEK. 

line and the last of the infantry ; Getty's Second 
Division, on the extreme right of all, being refused so 
that it faced westerly; the Cavalry Corps lay at our 
right and behind us ; picquets from our Division were 
four miles from camp, guarding, in connection with the 
cavalry, the line of the Creek clear across the Valley. 

Greueral Wright being now in command of the army. 
Gen. Ricketts succeeded to the command of the Corps. 

Our position was a good one, and as far as human 
foresight could reach, a safe one, though perhaps too 
much reliance was placed on the demoralization of the 
enemy. In flanking it General Early adopted Sheri- 
dan's tactics at Fisher's Hill, where the same Eighth 
Corps that was first attacked and routed here, by climb- 
ing the mountain side, had turned the line which Early 
assared his men could by no possibility be flanked ; the 
successful attack of Early at Cedar Creek was as ad- 
mirable as our own at Fisher's Hill, and even more 
audacious, as it involved the double fording of a rapid 
river to commence with, and the certainty of complete 
destruction in case of failure. 

It has always been somewhat of a mystery where 
Early obtained the troops with which he fought this 
battle. The previous engagements had cost him fully 
twelve thousand men hors du combat, including 
prisoners, and as many more in stragglers. Kershaw's 
Division, however, which had retired through the Luray 
Valley, had been recalled, and [Pegram's Division /had 
joined him entire from Longstreet's Corps. The scat- \ 
tered remnants of other divisions had been coUecte^^ 




PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF 
CED^^R CREEK, 

19th October, 1864. 



CEDAR CREEK. 



133 



from their hiding places in the forests and the mountains. 
It is certain also that a large body, estimated by 
" Druid " at from twelve to fifteen thousand more, had 
been raised by the last relentless conscription in the 
vicinity of (jbrdonsville and Lynchburg. It has been 
asserted that many of these men were without muskets, 
hoping to gather arms on the field in our anticipated 
rout. Probably, however, but few unarmed men were 
in the enemy's lines. A letter from Richmond to a 
paper further sovith at the time in question says that 
the force thus concentrated was " good for " 50,000 
men, and that 15,000 reserves were to be called out. 
This, however, was a greatly exaggerated estimate. 
Sheridan had received no reinforcements and we could 
not have had 25,000 men " present for duty equipped " 
including the cavalry which did nothing until evening. 
Early nmst have had 20,000 infantry at the very least. 
His plan was to attack us in detail and rout our 
Divisions successively, from the left ; we shall see that he 
succeeded until he reached the last Division in the line, 
Getty's, which Sheridan truly says Avas the only 
Division of the Infantry which " confronted the enemy 
from the first attack in the morning until the battle was 
decided." 

Every circumstance, save the diificulty of the ground, 
fiivored Early's project. The night was utterly dark ; 
the morning chilly and raw, owing to a dense fog which 
did not lift until nine o'clock and which completely veil- 
ed all the movements of the enemy, whereas the position 
of our camps had been previously carefully studied and 
12 



a 



^- 



'V6.^ 



atjcy^' 



7^ 



134 CEDAR CREEK. 

mapped by his officers from the summit of Three-top 
mountain. Between the base of the mountain and the 
Shenandoah river there was space amid the debris for a 
waojon road and a then dismantled railroad leading; from 
Strasburg to Front Royal. The river was crossed near 
that village at dark on the 18th by the Divisions of Gor- 
don, Pegram and Ramseur, which at once commenced 
cautiously picking their way down the rugged road and 
the railroad, no officer mounted, in the darkness and forest 
and fog, until they reached what is known as Bowman's 
Ford, outside of Crook's furthest picquets. Powell's 
Cavalry Division was still further down the river opposite 
Front Royal, and out of reach. Had the fords between 
Crook and Powell been carefully protected it is probable 
that the surprise could not have taken place. It had 
been supposed, and with great reason, that our right 
was the enemy's only feasible point of approach. 

As the column reached Bowman's Ford, it again 
crossed the breast-high Shenandoah and stole in single 
file close up to the fires of our confident outposts, until 
at four A.M., the grey battalions had deployed, with 
Gordon on the right completely overlapping Crook's en- 
campment. 

That they were thus permitted deliberately to make 
ready for the charge seems almost incomprehensible. The 
videttes who should have given the alarm afterwards re- 
lated that they heard a sound as of a going amid the 
rustling leaves through the night hours, but they were 
unable to comprehend its purport ; it was even reported 
among the other portions of the army that Gen. Gordon 



^^rt 



CEDAR CREEK. 135 

.•actually relieved part of Crook's picquet line and then 
sent the men as prisoners to their rear. 

The direction of attack was west ; the enemy's right 
was drawn up facing the turnpike, reaching far towards 
Middletown, while his left followed the course of 
Crook's line, getting between his works and the Creek, 
and connecting with Wharton's Division which had 
meanwhile crossed the creek a little below the turnpike . . 
bridge. Early himself with Kershaw's large Division '*^'/'^ 
■was near the bridge with artillery planted on the hills, 
ready to cross as soon as Crook should be swept aside, 
while his cavalry were on the back road far away to the 
west near the Little North Mountains. 

It was at this latter point that the battle commenced ; 
very early, probably before four o'clock, we were arous- 
ed by a dropping 'fire of musketry in that direction, at 
one time quite considerable in amount, but as it dimin- 
ished soon we wrapped ourselves again in our blankets 
and resumed our sleep, fully confident that our picquets 
could take care of the reconnoisance or whatever it might 
be. The few prisoners reported lost from the Brigade 
in the day's battle, were taken at that time. Capt. C. 
J. Lewis of the Eleventh Vermont, an exceedingly care- 
ful ofl[icer, was in charge of our extreme right reserve 
post, and Col. Foster of the Fourth Vermont was field 
officer of the day. The cavalry on his right were deceived 
by the stale trick of an attack and a feigned retreat, 
leaving their posts to follow. A larger force instantly 
passed through the gap and fell with a yell upon the 
rear of the infantry reserves ; the greater part of them 



136 CEDAR CKEEK. 

escaped and after a rapid detour towards our camp, de- 
V ployed into a rude skirmish line and still covered the 
j Corps, keeping up a free fight on their own account until 
they knew from the sound of the battle behind them that 
our army had left its ground, when they came in and 
participated in the final charge of the day. 

The alarm created by this little affair had almost sub- 
sided, when a sullen roar of musketry, dull at first but 
only too easily interpreted, arose from the distant left. 
It was the charge of the enemy in solid lines, without 
skirmishers, upon the works of G-eneral Crook. When 
the firing began, Early at once opened with his artillery 
ij\Kiht,^ from across the creek, thus raising a doubt as to the 

' real point of attack. Crook's brigades could not even 

attempt to maintain their position or their integrity ; 
the enemy captured the picquets who did not fire a shot, 
rushed upon the main line, which was first made aware 
of the attack by a full volley poured into their camp, 
and it was rapidly crowded towards the west. The men 
sprang from their tents and fied withovxt boots or 
clothing save what they had worn through the night ; 
the very tents were pulled ofi" from some as they 
lay in their l)lankets ; many with soldierly instinct 
placed themselves' without orders behind the breast- 
works, only to find themselves flanked and taken in re- 
verse file by file, each successively by the whole rebel 
column; and in simply time enough for the enemy in his 
impetuous charge to pass over the ground covered 1)y the 
" Army of Western Virginia " that whole command was 
a disorganized, routed, demoralized, terrified mob of 



CEDAR CREEK. 137 

fugitives, tlieir camp equipage left behind, officers and 
men all rushing to the rear in reckless dishabille. It 
was not afterwards seen as an oro-anization during the 
entii'e day. 

That these men were brave no one doubts ; their pre- 
vious brilliant conduct had amply shown it ; but a night 
surprise, total and terrific, is too trying for the morale of 
the best troops in the world to survive. 

The Nineteenth Corps across the pike had sprung to 
arms at the first sound of the conflict, the men for the 
most part leaving their tents and extra clothing as they 
stood, and forming their lines like soldiers. One 
Brigade under Colonel, since Brigadier General, and 
now Lieutenant Grovernor Stephen H. Thomas, of the 
Eighth Vermont, which regiment it included, was formed 
for the march at the time the fight commenced, having 
been ordered out on an early reconnoisance ; it plunged 
at once across the pike into the woods, stemming the 
rout, and facing the enemy. Glen. Wright endeavored to 
use it as a nucleus on which to reform Crook's command, 
and so gain time to bring up the rest of the army to 
the strong line of the turnpike, but his hopes were dis- 
appointed ; the Eighth Corps refused to rally, and in a 
few moments Thomas' Brigade was swept back over- 
powered, retiring sullenly and leaving in the forest the 
largest proportionate loss sufi'ered by any brigade dur- 
ing the day. 

The attacking column having now reached the pike, 
Early at once crossed the creek with Kershaw's 
Division and assumed command in person. He attacked 



/ . 



138 CEDAR CREEK, 

''Utv^'" , the Nineteenth Corps without delay. That organization 

j ^. W"^ "vy-as as above mentioned drawn up in its works, some of 

the troops being actually formed on the reverse side of 
their entrenchments. But Gordon's powerful right ex- 
tended far to Emory's rear ; and the Nineteenth Corps, 
in turn flanked and enfiladed, although it offered an organ- 
ized and energetic resistance, was soon crushed by piece- 
meal, and brigade after brigade, first losing heavily, fled 
in disorder. 

General Wright and Sheridan's staft" worked bravely 
and vigorously, endeavoring to stop the rout and reform 
the stragglers, the gallant General riding wounded over 
the field, his bleeding face bound with a handker- 
chief. But bravery simply could not arrest the torrent; 
the Sixth Corps was ordered in, but the excellent dis- 
position of this Corps and the cavalry directed by Gen^ 
Wright failed of success through lack of time, and on 
Ay^ account of the fog. 

^ Getty's Division, two miles to the right of Crook, 

heard all this firing with astonishment simply ; we could 
only suppose that the attack was in front, for we did 
not dream that the position could be turned on the left, 
and we expected the easy repulse of the enemy ; still wfr 
instantly struck tents, packed knapsacks, formed our 
lines, and were ready to move when called upon. 

The Third Division, then the First, and lastly the 
Second,' of the Sixth Corps being now moved by the left 
flank and by file left were successively put in the way of 
the charging column, each passing by the rear of the 
Brecedino; Division and forming; in echelon on its left. 



CEDAR CREEK. 13& 

SO that Getty's Division passed to the left of the corps, 
eudeavoring to reach the high ground on the pike near 
IMiddletown. The cavalry from our right continued the Ca^''^'^ 
same movement and passed behind us to our left and \J^ 
rear. But the right of the enemy's column kept along 
the creek toward our right flank after sweeping clear 
the entrenchments of the Nineteenth Corps, and our "' 
Third and First Divisions were successively attacked 
and overpowered by Early's now concentrated army. 
They were lost to our sight in the fog but we could hear ' 
the noise of their battle, and we knew that they were fight- 
ing desperately. Nearly every field olBcer in the First 
Division (Wheaton's) was killed or wounded. Genei'al 
llicketts, in command of the Corps, was wounded 
almost mortally. The Tenth Vermont in the Third 
Division went back a long distance after commencing 
its retreat, in the face of the leaden rain, to recapture 
and save a battery from which the horses had been 
shot, dragging oft' its guns by hand. Twenty-four -. 
cannon had now been lost and the enemy had hardly 
been checked for a moment. 

As Getty's Division moved by the left across the 
plain in the rear of the late camping ground, making as 
mentioned above, for the high ground near the pike, the 
prospect was dreary enough. I am utterly unable to 
describe the universal confusion and dismay that we en- 
countered. Wagons and ambulances lumbering hither 
and thither in disorder ; pack horses led by frightened 
bummers, or wandering at their own free will ; crowds 
of oflScers and men, some shod and some barefoot, many 



140 CEDAR CREEK, 

of them coatless and hatless, few without their rifles, but 
all rushing wildly to the rear ; oaths and blows alike 
powerless to halt them ; a cavalry regiment stretched 
across the field, unable to stem the torrent ; and added 
to the confusion and consternation the frequent sight of 
blood, ambulances, wagons, men, stained and dripping, 
with here and there a corpse ; while the whistling bullets 
and the shrieking shell told that the enemy knew their 
advantage and their ground. It was a sight that might 
well have demoralized the Old Guard of the first Na- 
poleon. 

As our division reached Meadow Run (a branch of 
Cedar Creek) a deep brook that annoyed us continually 
during the operations of the day, we received a fire from 
the enemy's skirmishers in a piece of v.'oods near by, 
which compelled General Getty to abandon his intention 
of reaching the pike and to go into line on the immediate 
left of the First Division, a little to its rear. The Fifth 
and Sixth Vermont, under command of Major Enoch E. 
Johnson of the Second then commanding the Fifth, and 
Major Walker's battalion of the Eleventh Vermont were 
ordered forward to clear the woods. Promptly deploy- 
ing as skirmishers they advanced for the time success- 
fully, reaching the further edge of the forest and halting 
under cover of the trees, so far to the front that they 
were much annoyed by the fire of our own batteries 
from behind the Division. The position was a good one, 
and a continuous line was arranged covering completely 
the whole Division front. Thus for the first time during 
the day the enemy was opposed by the regular forma- 



CEDAR CREEK. 141 

tion of a skirmish line masking a line of battle. Still, 
the skirmishers in the confusion and the fog feared that 
there might yet remain some of our own troops in their 
front, and being almost literally in the dark, hesitated 
about opening fire. At last a scattered line was dimly 
seen approaching through the mist which felt no such 
hesitation, giving us a volley which at once convinced us 
that the skirmishers of the enemy were upon us. Their 
progress was stopped without difficulty, but a double 
line of infantry was soon made out moving forward in 
perfect array, the front line firing heavily as they came, 
evidently supposing that a large force was stationed in 
our little forest ; and our skirmishers at once falling back, 
as was their duty, rejoined their Division, leaving 
several wounded where they fell. 

Meanwhile Gen. Getty, forming his Division in two 
lines, had advanced across the liun to the prolongation 
of the line held by the First Division ; but that command 
at last routed in turn by the heavy force of the enemy 
thrown against it, broke in confusion and fell back, pass- 
ing through the artillery of the Corps. Getty was now 
left alone upon the field. Seeing a strong semi-circular •'^"-'^ 
crest behind the Run, he fell back about three hundred 
yards and occupied it with his Division, throwing War- 
ner's First Brigade from the second line to the right of 
the Division in order to cover as much ground as possi- 
ble, the Vermont (Second) Brigade being in the centre 
on Warner's left, and Bidwell's (Third) Brigade on 
Orant's left, Warner and Bidwell being partly covered 
by woods, but our own Brigade being in an open field. 



Kx ■ 



142 , CEDAR CREEK. 

Warner's Brigade was " in the air," all our troops in 
that direction having retired ; Bidwell's left connected 
with a cavalry skirmish line, bending towards the rear. 
The position was on the whole an excellent one, however, 
notwithstanding there were no works, walls, or fences, 
the men lying down just behind the top of the hill, 
while a few skirmishers from each regiment were again 
sent forward over the ridge. 

^L^\. . The assault was not long delayed. The enemy charged 

IK in full line of battle against our brigade, and the left of 

Warner's. They pressed their advance with great de- 
termination, but it was unavailing and they presently 
^ retired across the run into the fog, which from this time 
began to disappear. Our skirmishers again followed 
over the crest. The rebels now concentrated a terrible 
fire of artillery upon our position, and shell from thirty 
guns flew, screaming devilishly, over and among us. The 
men hugged the ground, being somewhat covered by the 
hill, and owing to the cover thus obtained, the loss, as 
General Getty says, " was lighter than could be expected." 

^^_, , After a cannonade lasting for half an hour, our skir- 

mishers announced another charge and the men stood, or 
knelt rather, to their guns. On the rebels came, through 
the woods, straight against Bidwell's line and the left of 
Grant's, with a vigor that promised success. As they 
pressed us harder and harder, the lines being but a few 
yards apart, Bidwell's brigade began doggedly to give 
way, gradually retreating step by step almost to the foot 
of our little hill, of which the rebels now occupied the 
summit, while the left regiments of Grant also swung 



CEDAR CREEK. 143 

back, without coufiision, to maintain the continuity of 
the line, A panic for a moment seemed to threaten the 
Sixth and Eleventh Vermont, but the bravery of the 
officers at once restored the courage of the men, and they 
gave and took without further flinchi no;, though the strua;- 
gle was deadly. At this critical juncture a shell struck j «^ 



Greneral Bidwell as he sat on his horse, holding his men 
to their work ; he was a man of remarkably large frame, 
and the missile tore through his shoulders and lungs, 
bringing him heavily to the ground. Wonderful to re- 
late he lived until evening, and died rejoicing at our 
victory. He is well remembered by every member of 
our brigade, which had fought at his side for years, and 
he was so much beloved and respected by his own men 
that it seemed impossible but that they would now give 
up the contest, when Lieut.-Col. French of the Seventy- 
seventh New York, next in command, shouted, " Don't 
run till the Vermonters do ! " and with a cheer of des- 
peration his troops sprang forward reaching their first 
position on the crest. The astonished rebels formed in 
rows behind the trees for protection, and these files were 
forced to swing first to the east and then to the west as 
a fire was poured upon them from our Brigade or Colonel 
French's, until strange as it may appear, many of them 
actually surrendered themselves as prisoners ; two of 
these were killed together, far behind our line, by the 
same rebel shell. 

Thus our position was for the second time left un- 
vexed. At about this time, Gleneral Getty learned of 
the serious wound of General Ricketts, which left him in 



144 CEDAR CREEK. 

command of the Corps. He therefore turned over the 
Division to General Grant, though he still watched its 
movements, the First and Third Divisions being far out 
of reach, no longer " confronting the enemy," Lieutenant 
Colonel Amasa S. Tracy of the Second Vermont was 
now in command of the Brigade as its senior officer, 
Colonel Foster not having as yet come in from the pic- 
quet line. 

The two repulses thus inflicted upon the enemy must 
have annoyed him terribly; he had previously routed all 
the rest of our infantry and had good reason to expect no 
further labor but pursuit. The attack was at once re- 
sumed however, this time upon Warner more especially, 
though involving our right regiments somewhat. They 
were checked for a time, and on the next morning 
the slaughter of rebels in front of this position was seen 
to have been terrible. But their whole army was now 
\ up ; we could see heavy columns marching upon the 
, cavalry on our left, while Warner was struck upon his 
; unprotected flank, and a line of rebels even came upon 
his rear. At this time, Early having now men enough 
in position to bag our stubborn little Division entire if 
we longer maintained our stubborness. General Getty 
sent word to Grant to withdraw unless he saw some 
iwA,'^'**' '■' especial reason for remaining. The order was hand- 

■ , - somely executed. A fidl line of rebels took pos- 

i session of our hill almost the very moment we left it, 
but for some reason they did not see fit to pursue us 
except with scattering bullets. After retiring about half 
a mile we halted in an old road just west of Middletown, 



CEDAR CREEK. 145 

Avhere we remained for perhaps twenty minutes. Not 
finding other troops in the vicinity however, and the 
position being of no value, Grant threw forward Captain 
Wales with the Second Vermont as skirmishers to cover 
our retreat, and the Division coolly marched in line of 
battle a mile further to the rear, when we found a posi- 
tion that General Getty considered suitable to form upon. 
We therefore faced to the front again while he ordered 
the other Divisions, then still further to the rear, to con- 
form to the movements of his own. 

It was then about 10 a. m., and Early now lost the 
opportunity which might have given him complete suc- 
cess. In the night after this same day. General Sheri- 
dan's cavalry pursued the routed enemy to New Market 
without a halt, but Early, after his victory of the morning, ^ 

kindly gave us three valuable hours in which to reform ♦ («/ '^ 
our scattered troops, without attempting to prevent it. A 
General Order which he subsequently published to his 
troops, recognizes his failure to properly push his success, 
and says he was unable to give the rapid pursuit he de- 
sired, because his men had so generally left their ranks 
to plunder our deserted camps and rifle the pockets of 
our dead and wounded. The blame rests upon himself, 
for it was truly a sad state of discipline which could not 
keep together, in the flush of victory, a sufiicient number 
of men to follow up a disorganized retreat ; his gallant 
army was not alone in fault for this shameful state of ' / 

affiiirs which he reprobates so bitterly. And even if his ' 
infantry were beyond his control, where was his large 
cavalry force, which had not fired a gun except in their 
13 



146 CEDAR CREEK. 

insignificant skirmish with our picquets in the early 
morning? Without doubt the report was correct, which 
attributed to some of General Early's brilliant young 
subordinates the inception of the wonderful plan, which 
it is certain he left to them to execute, and its success, 
which his own feeble authority and lack of energy were 
by his own confession entirely incompetent to pursue, or 
even to preserve. 

The position selected by General Getty was behind a 
long fence, for part of the way a stone wall, stretching 
west a mile or two from the pike, across ravines, and 
beyond our own Division extending into a forest. It 
was evident that we could here check the enemy's next 
advance, and probably could hold him at bay until he 
should again outflank us. At the very worst we could 
make an organized stand and take up an organized re- 
treat. General Wright now devoted himself to arranging 
the troops on their new line and to our Division belongs 
the credit of rendering the formation possible. While 
we had held the hill near Middletown so tenaciously, 
General Wright had got together the regiments of the 
Nineteenth Corps and of our First and Third Divisions, 
and now placed them on our right, forming a strong and 
defensible line along which a rude protection of earth and 
rails was at once improvised. He frequently said that 
he could yet defeat the enemy, and his staff have claimed 
that he issued orders looking to a counter-attack, but it is 
doubtful if such a movement would have been successful, 
as the army was much disheartened. Still we now had an 
opportunity to rest, and even to breakftist roughly, in a 
sort of dogged gloom. 



CEDAR CREEK. 147 

French's Brigade now extended from the pike down the 
hill to Meadow Run; our own Brigade was still in the 
centre of the Division across the Run, and Warner's on 
our right. The Third Division followed by the First 
and the Nineteenth Corps were coming up to prolong our 
line. Across the pike on the left were two Divisions of 
cavalry, and Crook's command also there attempted a 
shadow of a formation, though some of it had already 
reached Winchester, and the greater part of it was in a 
fair way to do so soon. A strong and well posted skir- 
mish line again covered our front, which Col. Tracy after 
Sheridan's arrival rode out on horseback to inspect. As 
he was reconnoitring with a field glass he was brought to 
the ground, seriously wounded in his previously unfortu- 
nate left leg, and disabled for months. 

While thus waiting for the complete re-formation of 
the army, sulkily and it is to be feared profanely growl- 
ing over the defeat in detail which we had experienced, 
though not in the least disposed to admit that our Divi- 
sion had been whipped, in fact a little proud of what we 
had already done, and expecting the rebel charge which 
we grew more and more confident we should repulse, we 
heard cheers behind us on the pike. We were astound- 
ed. There we stood, driven four miles already, quietly 
waitino; for what might be further and immediate dis- 
aster, while far in the rear we heard the stragglers and 
hospital bummers, and the gunless artillerymen actual- 
ly cheering as though a victory had been won. We 
could hardly believe our ears. 

The explanation soon came, in the apparition which 



148 CEDAR CREEK. 

Buchanan Read's as yet embryonic, but now well-known 
poem, has made familiar. As the sturdy, fiery Sheri- 
dan, on his sturdy, fiery steed, flaked with foam 
from his two hours mad galloping, wheeled from the 
pike and dashed down the line, our Division also broke 
forth into the most tumultuous applause. Ardent 
General Custer first stopped the wonderful Inspirer, and 
kissed him before his men. His next halt was before 
our own Brigade. Such a scene as his presence pi'o- 
duced and such emotions as it awoke cannot be realized 
once in a century. All outward manifestations were as 
enthusiastic as men are capable of exhibiting ; cheers 
seemed to come from throats of brass, and caps were 
thrown to the tops of the scattering oaks ; but beneath 
and yet superior to these noisy demonstrations, there 
was in every heart a revulsion of feeling, and a pressure 
of emotion, beyond description. No more doubt or 
chance for doubt existed ; we were safe, perfectly and 
unconditionally safe, and every man knew it. 

When our greeting had somewhat subsided Col. Tracy, 
the first man in the Corps to address him, rode up, hat 
in hand, saying, "General, we're glad to see you." "Well, 
by G — , I'm glad to be here," exclaimed the General, 
"What troops are these?" "Sixth Corps! Vermont 
Brigade !" was shouted from the ranks. His answer 
was as prompt : " All right ! We' re all right ! We'll 
have our camps by night !" and he galloped on. So 
soon had he determined to defeat the enemy. He soon 
met General Wright and " suggested that we would 
fight on Getty's line," sending us word meanwhile that 
Getty's Division had out-done itself that morning. 



CEDAR CREEK. 149 

the General in riding through the whole command, con- 
firming Wright's dispositions and inspiriting the troops 
by his presence and his words. He thus survej'ed the 
entire field and felt that he was master of the position. 
General Wright, General Getty and General Grant re- 
turned to their commands. Custer's cavalry was again 
moved by our rear to the right of the army. About one 
o'clock the Vermont Brigade was hastily taken through 
the woods to a point in rear of the Nineteenth Corps, 
where the enemy were pressing, but the attack was easily 
repulsed without our assistance. Then we returned to a 
spot where we were concealed from the enemy's view, but 
from which we could in a moment reach our old position 
in the line, and where we quietly waited for the order to 
advance. In ten minutes half the men, witli genuine 
soldier nonchalance, were fast asleep. 

Sheridan's plan of battle vras something as follows : /<>C,^ A-'^v 
to throw forward the right. Nineteenth Corps and 
Cavalry, striking the left of the enemy and turning it if 
possible ; to occupy the rest of his line by a sharp at- 
tack but especially to overwhelm his left, the whole 
army following the movement in a grand left wheel. 
With this view the Sixth Corps, our left, was drawn up 
in one line, considerably extended, while the Nineteenth 
was massed in two lines, its flank weighted by the 
cavalry. 

Time was consumed in making the necessary disposi- 
tions and in distributing ammunition, so that it was near- 
ly four o'clock when the few guns we had remaining 



150 CEDAR CREEK, 

commenced their usual ante-battle salute. The challenge 
was promjDtly answered, and at the appointed time 
the whole line advanced against the enemy. Their 
stragglers had been collected, their line was well closed 
up and strongly posted, and their advance would 
soon have been resumed, had not our army taken the 
initiative. The long thin line of the Sixth Corps was 
thus hurled against a very heavy line of the enemy, 
covered throughout by a series of stone walls. 

Our own Division was now the only one in our sight, 
the rest of the battle commencing in the woods. So it 
happened that as French's Brigade on Grant's left, 
General Bidwell being absent and dying, crossed a long 
open field into the line of fire that flamed from the wall 
before them, being ordered to move slowly as the pivot of 
the army wheel, it staggered and at last fell back to its 
starting place. Warner's troops on our right had 
obliqued over a hill where we could no longer see them; 
we were therefore forced to halt behind a fortunate 
wall, low, and just long enough to cover our Brigade, 
L where we opened fire. Directly in front of our position 

(jf^ were a house, mill, and other out-buildings, swarming 

with the enemy, our only approach to which was along 
a narrow road by the side of a little mill-pond formed 
by a dam across our old annoyance. Meadow Pain. 

French's broken Brigade seeing that we refused to 
retire, rallied with very little delay and again advanced 
to the charge, this time by General Getty's direction on 
the double quick, its commander having complained that 
he could not take his men over the open field at a slower 



CEDAR CREEK. 151 

pace, and with an apparently unanimous detcrnn'nation 
to succeed. When they were nenrly abreast of our 
position, being still across the Run, our Brigade poured 
over the wall which had covered it, and rushed promis- 
cuously into the ad de sac by the mill-pond. The at- 
tack was successful, and the group of buildings from 
which the enemy fled in confusion to a wall which pro- 
tected their second line, was as good a protection for us 
as it had been for the rebels. The troops of our 
Brigade were now scattered about the grounds and out- 
buildings just mentioned, some of them l)eing behind 
and upon two large hay-stacks, and fully one third of 
the command being advanced quite a distance further, J^*t-^ 

to the cover of a broken garden wall and amona; several 
large trees. French was now in a capital spot nearly up 
with us, and we wei-e still unable to see the regiments 
on our right. Officers sent over the hill to reconnoitre 
found a rebel line of battle and a section of their artil- 
lery nearly on the prolongation of our line, and it was 
considered that we should be doing extremely well if we 
were able to hold our then position, being it will be re- 
membered the extreme left of the army, with a heavy 
force of the enemy in our front, and even extending 
across the pike where we had now no troops except a 
regiment or so of Col. Kitchen's unattached " provision- 
al " train guard, and some cavalry. 

Therefore we kept concealed as much as was consist- 
ent with expending the full fifty rounds of ammunition 
consumed in the next half hour, the rebel fire mean- 
while being so hot that we could not carry off" our 






MM-. 



^ 



152 CEDAR CREEK. 

"Wounded or send for more cartridges. At last however 
the excellence of Sheridan's plan was proved ; a move- 
ment became apparent on the right ; Wanier's left was 
, again seen advancing, and Avith a cheer wc made a 

" final charge against the walls before us. The enemy 

> ' . faced our advance but for a moment and then fled in 

, J^ confusion ; we pursued faster and faster, only stop- 

ping to hastily fill our cartridge-boxes with captured 
ammunition ; the retreat became a stampede, the pursuit 
became a reckless chase, and with tumultuous cheers and 
throbbing hearts we crowded the motley mob before us, 
on and on over the miles of hill and plain to the banks of 
Cedar Creek. Our formation was entirely lost but we 
had the organization and enthusiasm of recognized suc- 
cess ; every man felt that it would not do to allow the 
enemy to rally on this side of the stream ; the front was 
presently occupied by flags alone, as the more heavily 
loaded troops became unable to keep up with the ener- 
getic color-sergeants ; the strong cavalry force on our 
' distant rio;ht were seen charnfiu"' down the field : the 
rebels obliqued confusedly and in uncontrollable dismay 
towards the turnpike and the bridge ; a final attempt 
was made to organize a last resistance on the hills that 
crowned the Creek, but after a feeble volley the line 
melted away ; a last battery faced us with a round of 
canister, but in vain ; we saw the flag that followed 
Sheridan, a white star on the red above a red star on 
the white, flashing in the front and centre of the army, 
literally leading it to victory ; the regimental standard 
bearers vied with each other in an eager strife to be first 



CEDAK CREEK. 153 

in the works of the morning, every brigade in the army 
afterwards chximing the distinction, our own brigade 
certainly not with the least ground of any; and so at last 
we manned the entrenchments of the Nineteenth Corps, 
while the foe toiled up the other bank of Cedar Creek 
and hastily formed a battle-line outside our musket 
range. 

Artillery came up on the gallop and opened vigor- 
ously. Generals exchanged congratulations with each 
other and their troops. Sheridan's promise was fulfilled 
again, for we had our camps as the evening fell. 

It is perhaps not surprising that sarcastic cheers and 
impudent questions concerning the distance to Harper's 
Eerry and the probabilities of an early mail saluted a 
few of Gen. Crook's officers who followed to witness our 
success. The feeling was prevalent and not unreason- 
able that we were indebted to them alone for our day's 
work, with the terrible discomfiture of the morning, but 
we were afterwards convinced that they had done what 
they could. 

Sheridan was not satisfied even yet. Custer was 
ordered to pursue the enemy still farther. We saw in 
the twilight the regiments he had selected, being the 
First Vermont and the Fifth New York Cavalry, cross 
the creek at a ford a mile above the bridge, then gradual- 
ly deploy and climb the hill in an extended line ; a 
volley awaited them at its summit which was like a 
blaze of fire in the darkness, but the brave horsemen 
did not falter, and that volley was the last. 

" Every regiment to its camp of the morning " was 



154 CEDAR CREEK. 

the order next received, and we joyfully picked our way 
to our first position. Tent poles, rude tables, and rustic 
couches were found undisturbed ; a few minutes more 
and everything was as it had been twenty-four hours 
before, save in the absence of the fallen. Fires were 
lighted and the excited men, though weai'y, were more 
ready to discuss and congratulate than to sleep ; while 
once and anon a quiet party would sally forth into the 
night to find and save some groaning sufferer. The bodies 
of the Union troops left dead and wounded on the field in 
our first retreat had been most shamefully plundered by 
the rebels, many of them lying naked on the ground when 
recaptured. 

At perhaps ten p. m., a cavalry acquaintance hurried 
into camp and from him we learned the sequel of the 
day ; how Custer and Davies had pushed the cavalry 
over Fisher's Hill and were still in pursuit ; how all our 
captured cannon had been re-taken and nearly every one 
of the enemy's guns had been brought into camp by 
their own unwilling drivers ; how prisoners were crowd- 
ing in by hundreds and the vacant space in front of 
Sheridan's headquarters had become a corral, full of all 
sorts of plunder, men, guns, wagons, and mules, upon 
which he was wont for many days to look with grim 
satisfaction ; how a Vermont boy had, single-handed, 
captured a rebel General, for which he afterwards re- 
ceived a well-earned decoration, naively telling Secretary 
Stanton at the time of its bestowal that the Johnnies in 
the darkness expostulated with him for interfering with 
*' the Greneral's " ambulance, whereat he " guessed the 



CEDAR CREEK. 155 

General was the very man he was looking for ; " how 
in fact the turnpike had been blocked at the foot of 
Fisher's Hill, and three miles of wagons and guns were 
captured entire. 

The defeat was utter, and decisive so far as the 
Shenandoah Valley was concerned. Its secret was sim- 
ply Sheridan's personal magnetism, and all-conquering 
energy. He felt no doubt, he would submit to no de- 
feat, and he took his army with him as on a whirlwind. 

General Grant well said with generous eulogy, " this 
victory stamps Sheridan as what I have always thought 
him, one of the ablest of Generals." 

It was announced in another vivid dispatch as fol- 
lows : 

" October 19th, 10 p.m. 
Lieutenant General Grant : 

I have the honor to report that my army at Cedar 
Creek was attacked this morning before daylight, and 
my left was turned and driven in confusion. In fact 
most of the line was driven in confusion with the loss of 
20 pieces of artillery. I hastened from Winchester 
where I was on my return from Washington and found 
the armies between Middletown and Newtown, having 
been driven back about four miles. I here took the 
affair in hand, and quickly united the corps, formed a 
compact line of battle just in time to repulse an attack 
of the enemy which was handsomely done at about one 
p. M. ; at 3 p. M., after some changes of the cavalry 
from the left to the right, I attacked with great vigor, 
capturing, according to the last report, 43 pieces of 
artillery, with very many prisoners. I do not know yet 
the number of my casualties or the losses of the enemy. 

Wagon trains, ammunition and caissons in large 
abundance are in our possession. General Ramseur is 



156 CEDAR CREEK. 

a prisoner in our hands, severely and perhaps mortally 
wounded. I have to report the loss of Gen. Bidwell, 
killed, and Generals Wright, Grover and liicketts 
wounded. Wright is slightly wounded. AflFairs at 
times looked badly, but by the gallantry of our brave 
oificers and mendisaster has been converted into a splen- 
did victory. Darkness again intervened to shut off 
greater results. 1 now occupy Strasburg. 

P. H. Sheridan, 

Maj.-Gen, 

And again on the -Ist : 
* * * "The accident in the morning turned to our 
advantage, as much as though the whole thing had been 
Diiiiinpfi ^ ^ ^ "^ "^ "^ ^ ^ 

The actual number of cannon captured was 53 in- 
cluding those lost in the morning; we also took 1100 
prisoners besides the enemy's wounded, with which the 
village of Strasburg was crowded. 

Major General Wright's ofl&cial report proposes the 
following explanation of the surprise of Crook's com- 
mand : 

"A brigade sent out by General Crook on the pre- 
ceding day to ascertain the position of the enemy had 
returned to camp and reported that nothing was to be 
found in the old camps of the enemy and that he had 
doubtless retreated up the Valley. ****** 
However this mistake was made, I have no question 
that the belief in the retreat of the enemy was generally 
entertained throughout the reconnoitring force." 

"This force, which as before remarked was from 
the arniy of West Virginia, returned to camp through 
its own lines and must have made known to the troops 
in camp and on the picket line its received belief in the 
enemy's retreat. Now it happens that the advance of 
the enemy was made upon this part of the line; the 
surprise was complete, for the pickets did not fire a 



CEDAR CREEK. 157 

shot, and the first indication of the enemy's presence 
was a volley into the main line where the men of part 
of the regiments were at reveille roll call without arms.. 
As the entire picket line over that part crossed by the 
enemy was captured without a shot being fired, no ex- 
planation could be obtained from any of the men com- 
prising it ; but it is fair to suppose that they were 
lulled into an unusual security by the report of the 
previous evening that the enemy had fallen back, and 
that there was consequently no danger to be apprehend- 
ed. This supposition seems to me likely enough; it 
certainly goes far toward explaining how an enemy in 
force passed and captured a strong and well connected 
picket line of old soldiers, without occasioning alarm, 
and gave as a first warning ot its presence a volley of 
musketry into the main line of unarmed soldiers. It 
was reported in camp, as derived from the enemy, that 
he first relieved a part of our line by his own men 
dressed in our uniforms ; but I have never been able 
to confirm this rumor." 

General Sheridan says, "This surprise was owing, 
probably, to not closing in Powell," who was towards 
Front Royal, rather than watching the nearer fords, 
"or that the Cavalry Divisions of Merritt and Custer 
were placed on the right of our line, where it had 
always occurred to me there was but little danger of an 
attack." 

These two hypotheses are both doubtless correct, 
Greneral Sheridan proposing the more remote strategical 
error, while Wright explains the more immediate care- 
lessness which enabled the enemy to surprise Crook's 
camp, without notice from his picquets. 

General Wright's report continues : "The proceedings 
up to this point were bad enough for us, as it gave the 
enemy, almost without a struggle, the entire left of our 
line, with considerable artillery, not a gun of which 
had fired a shot. But the reserve of this line was 

14 



158 CEDAR CREEK. 

posted a considerable distance in its rear, where it could 
be made available as a movable force, and was well 
situated to operate upon any force attempting to turn 
our left. It was in no way involved in the disaster of 
the first line, which was after all but a small part of 
our whole force, being only one weak division ; and its 
loss was in no wise to be taken as deciding the fate of 
the day ; with the other troops brought up, this support- 
ing division was in good position to ofter sturdy battle 
with every prospect of repulsing the enemy ; and aided 
as it would have been by the rest of the army, the 
chances were largely in our favor. Here the battle 
should have been fought and won ; and long before 
mid-day the discomfitted enemy should have been driven 
across Cedar Creek, stripped of all the captures of his 
first attack. But from some unexplainable cause the 
troops forming this part of the line would not stand,, 
but broke under a scattered fire which should not have 
occasioned the slightest apprehension in raw recruits, 
much less in old soldiers like themselves. Most officers 
who have served through the war have had instances of 
the same kind in their own experience, and will there- 
fore perfectly understand this, though they may find 
themselves as much at a loss for a satisfactory explana- 
tion of its cause." 

" It was the breaking of this line which involved the 
necessity of falling back; a change of fi'ont was neces- 
sary, and this must be made to a position which would 
place our force between the enemy and our base. That 
there was no intention of retreating, the soldiers who- 
stood firm clearly understood, and when once brought 
■ into the new position in face of the enemy they were 
ready to advance upon him as was shown by their 
magnificent attack when ordered forward." 

"To the Sixth Corps which it was my honor to com- 
mand after the death of that noble soldier Sedgwick, — 
to its officers and men, I desire to acknowledge the 
obligations which in addition to the many others it has^ 
imposed, it laid upon the country by its steadiness, 



CEDAR CREEK. 159 

•courage and discipline in this important battle : without 
disparagement to the soldierly qualities of other organi- 
zations concerned, it is but just to claim for it a large 
share in the successes of the day. Being from the 
nature of the attack upon our lines somewhat in the 
position of a reserve force, and therefore fairly to be 
called upon to turn the tide of unsuccessful battle, it 
came up nobly to its duty, fully sustaining its former 
"well earned laurels." 

Greneral Getty's official report contains the following 

paragraph : 

''I take just pride in recapitulating the sei'vices of 
the Division on this eventful day. At daybreak the 
Division was on the extreme right of the infantry of 
the army. Immediately after daylight it moved by the 
left toward Middletown with a view of gaining f)ossess- 
ion of the pike and the high ground near the town. On 
its march it encountered the enemy, formed line rapidly, 
and immediately advanced, driving the enemy, and 
taking some prisoners, at this time finding itself on the 
extreme left. Compelled from unforeseen causes to ^-i,'^ 
halt and occupy a crest 300 yards to the rear, it held ^. 
this position unsupported for over an hour after all 
other troops had left the field, checking the further 
advance of the enemy and repulsing every attack, thus 
giving time to the scattered commands to reorganize and 
reform. Finally outnumbered and outflanked, the 
Division moved back leisurely, contesting every inch of 
ground, about a mile to the north of Middletown, with 
its left resting on the pike, and in this position served 
as the nucleus on which the lines of the army were re- 
formed. In the afternoon the Division advanced upon 
the lines of the enemy, over almost entirely open ground, 
in the face of a heavy fire of musketry and artillery ; 
and although parts of the line had to yield for the 
moment to the galling fire encountered, the mass of the 
Division moved steadily on, driving the enemy from his 
first position back upon his second, and eventually 



ivv 



160 CEDAR CREEK. 

forcing him from this position and driving him in con- 
fusion through Middletown and the plains beyond, to 
and over Cedar Creek." 

The following table shows the casualties of the Brig- 
ade at the battle of Cedar Creek, as first reported : 

KEGIMENT. KILLED. WOUNDED. MISSING. TOTAL. 



2d. 


3 


31 


4 


38 


3d. 


3 


38 


1 


42 


4th. 


6 


20 


3 


29 


5th. 


2 


17 


3 


22 


6th. 


5 


32 


11 


48 


11th. 


9 


74 


29 


112 



Aggregate, 28 212 51 291 

The prisoners it will be remembered were lost from 
the picquet line at daybreak. A subsequent revision 
corrected this aggregate as follows : killed 33, wounded 
210, missing 41, total 284. 

The only officer killed was Second Lieutenant Oscar 
K. Lee, of the Eleventh Regiment. He was a remark- 
ably brave and efficient officer, from Waterford, whose 
commission as Captain was received a few days after 
his death. A commission previously issued to Lieutenant 
Duhigg as Captain of the same company (M) had in 
like manner reached the regiment a day or two after 
that officer was killed at the Opequan. 

Captain Edward P. Lee, a brother of Lieutenant Lee 
and in the same Regiment, was among the wounded. 
The other officers wounded were Lieutenant Colonel 
Tracy and Lieutenant Amasa W. Ferry of the Second ; 
Captain William H. Hubbard and Lieutenant Augustus 
H. Lyon of the Third ; Captain Joseph P. Aikens of 



CEDAR CREEK. 161 

the Fourth ; Captain Thomas Kavanaugh of the Fifth ; 
Captain Edwin R. Kinney and Captain Thomas B. 
Kennedy of the Sixth, Captain Kinney being the senior 
officer of his Regiment and succeeded in command by 
Captain Sperry after receiving his wound ; Lieutenant 
George 0. French of the Eleventh, afterwards killed at 
Petersburg, together with Captain George H, Amidon 
of the Fourth, and Lieutenant Henry C. Baxter of the 
Eleventh who were serving on the Brigade Staff. 



XIII. 
CONCLUSION. 

But little worth the writing now remains of my sub- 
ject. The Shenandoah Valley was fairly and finally 
conquered and a season of rest ensued, varied only by 
the ordinary incidents of life in camp, and rumors, 
which had grown to be stale and profitless by frequent 
repetition, of our expected removal to Petersburg and 
the army of the Potomac. 

On the 21st of October, our Division then still on 
the extreme left of the army, was transferred to the 
village of Strasburg, the Vermont Brigade occupying 
the town itself, and finding capital quarters. The rest 
of the army still held the north bank of Cedar Creek, 
while we acted as a grand guard with our outposts on 
Fisher's Hill. We were entirely unmolested during 
the fortnight we spent there, and were made happy by 
an opportunity to renew our acquaintance with Pay- 
master Hayward and his greenbacks. 

There being no further signs of an enemy, the army 
presently moved back to Kernstown, a few miles south 
of Winchester ; the railroad being soon put in running 
order from Harper's Ferry to Stevenson's Depot, but six 
miles from camp, we were again at our base and accessi- 
ble to military comforts. Hay for the horses was issued 
for the first time since the army of the Potomac had 
crossed the Eapidan in May, while suttlers began 
anew to vend their salt mackerel and clammy ginger- 
bread. 



CONCLUSION. 16S 

The presidential election was held, the Brigade 
again having an opportunity to vote and casting a 
large majority for Abraham Lincoln, though some of 
the veterans of the peninsula still had sufficient enthusi- 
asm for McClellan to honor him with their ballots. 

Evening dress-parades and formal guard-mountings 
were resumed. Gen, Getty each morning collected 
together the guards and picquets of the Division, and 
thus made a remarkably fine display of the most inter- 
esting ceremony of the Regulations, while the evening 
parades were by Brigades, our own of course conducted 
by General Grant, 

On the 21st of November the Corps was reviewed 
by General Sheridan. It turned out in large numbers 
and in fine style, and the sight would have been an ex- 
ceedingly imposing one, had not a blustering rain set 
in which converted the field into a sea of mud and 
dampened all enthusiasm. Still it was an admirable 
performance, and it may be doubted if the steadiness of 
marching shown has ever been equalled by so large a 
number of troops upon our continent. 

The 24th was Thanksgiving day at home, and was 
remembered in camp. The weather was beautiful, all 
drills and labor were suspended, barrels of turkeys 
and other good things had been forwarded from the 
north, which were faithfully distributed among the 
men ; and Vermont, where we hoped, yet somewhat 
doubtfully, to spend our next Thanksgiving, was the 
universal subject of conversation and field of fancy. 
The "loved ones at home" during the war doubtless spent 



164 CONCLUSION. 

much time in pitying the soldiers and longing for their 
return, while suffering deeply from their absence and 
danger, but one misery they were spared, they could not 
be homesick.; while the " boys in the field" were many 
of them afflicted with chronic nostalgia except on letter 
days. 

The campaign now closed had been a hard but a 
pleasant one. It commenced when the men were ex- 
hausted with the unprecedented labor imposed upon the 
army of the Potomac in its progress from the Rapidan to 
Petersburg, comprising two months of continuous fighting, 
relieved only by most wearisome marches and labor in 
the trenches. The investment of Petersburg was just 
completed when we were called away, and entered at once 
in the heat of the summer upon another month of the 
most severe marching, and fatiguing campaigning, that 
we had ever been called upon to perform. At the be- 
ginning of August when Hunter was relieved we were 
as well nigh exhausted as men could be and still retain 
any energy to be, or to do, or to suffer. From Sheridan's 
arrival our case began to mend. The weather grew cooler ; 
the marches were easier ; we were presently successful 
in battle ; and at last, at the termination of the season 
we were in the best possible condition, contented with 
ourselves and proud of our services, with small sick- 
lists and plenty of supplies, preparing winter-quarters, 
ready for any movement, though hoping to the last 
against hope that Petersburg would not again be our 
destination. 

Our Brigade was ably served in the Shenandoah, by 



CONCLUSION. 165 

its nou-conibalant staff, whose labors should not be for- 
gotten. The duties of the various Eegimental Quarter- 
masters were especially severe on account of the long 
distance each supplj' train had to traverse. Martins- 
burg, where they made their headquarters, was a perfect 
pandemonium one day in four, mules, wagons, soldiers, 
negroes and carts being mingled apparently inextricably 
and almost undistinguishably, while the days when the 
caravan was on the march were not only tedious but 
often dangerous, the guerrillas never ceasing to annoy. 
Captain Randall of the Sixth was the Brigade Quarter- 
master and was an exceedingly hard working and 
efl&cient officer. Lieutenant Clark of the Eleventh was 
also in charge of that department a portion of the time, 
and was not surpassed by any officer in his branch of the 
service in the foresight with which he anticipated every 
want that could be supplied, and "drew for it." 

Capt. Valentine, the Brigade Commissary, supplied 
our bodily necessities as abundantly as the facilities for 
transportation would allow. 

But among all the faithful soldiers of the Brigade, 
the one who will be longest remembered with affection 
by the greatest number and with the greatest reason, 
is Castanus B. Park of the 1 ] th Eegiment, the Brig- 
ade Surgeon. As a worker Dr. Park was indefatiga- 
ble, and his skill was equal to the requirements of his 
position. Of all its medical staff the Brigade were 
justly proud, the assistant surgeons as well as the 
surgeons being always found at their posts, and shrink- 
ing from no labor that might benefit their men on the 



166 CONCLUSION. 

march, in the camp or in battle. Their duties were 
often extremely arduous, for in case of an engagement 
the work of the surgeons was but just begun when ours 
was over. At and after the battle of Cedar Creek Dr. 
Park was at his table for forty-eight hours consecutively, 
and during this campaign it was his duty to perform 
all the capital operations required in the Brigade. The 
number of amputations which he performed was ex- 
ceedingly large, but he traced with care the after history 
of each patient, and in no single instance did one fail of 
recovery. This fact speaks equally well for the physique 
of the men and for the science of the Doctor. 

Among the officers of the Brigade, who were all so 
gallant in action that their bravery became a proverb — 
Col. Warner in reporting the battle of the Opequan 
said that to specify those who had distinguished them- 
selves would be to give a complete roster of the com- 
missioned officers of the Brigade — the following were 
honored with brevets for " meritorious services" during 
this campaign, receiving commissions signed by the 
President according them Brevet rank as follows : 

Enoch E. Johnson, Lieutenant Colonel. 
In the '2d Regiment. Elijah Wales, Major. 

Erastus <:>. Ballou, Major. 

In the 3d Regiment. Horace W. iloyd, Colonel. 

In the 4th Regiment. George P. Foster, Brigadier General. 

James M, Warner, Brigadier General. 

Aldace F. Walker, Lieutenant Colonel. 
Inthe IIthRegiiient. ^ -^ t^,-, ■-, ,, ■ 

James E. Eldridge, Major. 

Henry C. Baxter, Captain. 



CONCLUSION. 167 

Many of these officers were afterwards advanced to 
the full rank of their brevets. 

The Vermont Brigade was one of the last in the 
corps to return to Petersburg. On the 9th of Decem- 
ber, in a driving snow-storm, it took the cars at Ste- 
venson's depot, and thus, in the night and the tempest 
it finally left the Shenandoah Valley. 



The muster-rolls of the Vermont Brigade enable 
the author to give the names of its members who were 
killed or mortally wounded in the Shenandoah Valley. 
His little book, dedicated to their memory, would be 
incomplete without such a record. It should be ob- 
served, however, that the remark on the rolls, "died of 
wounds received in action," opposite the names of those 
not instaatly killed, does not contain exact information 
as to the time the fatal injury was received. The date 
of death, however, is always given, so that the follow- 
ing list can be relied upon as substantially correct. 
Persons having knowledge either of omissions or of 
names improperly inserted are requested to suggest 
corrections. 

The lists are arranged alphabetically, without titles. 
Bank is no longer of consequence to them, and their 
fellow citizens hold the memory of all in equal esti- 
mation. 



ID I E ]D 



OF AVOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION, IN THE SHENANDOAH CAMPAIGN 





] 864. 




SECOND REGIMENT. 


Jonathan Camp, 


Wells Howard, 


Charles H. Stowe, 


Henry M. Clark, 


Benjamin F. Hurlburd, James C. Sweetzer, | 


Marcus M. Clough, 


James C. Hutshinson 


, Jonathan E. Tapper, 


Clark Curtice, 


John B. Lute, 


James A. Walcott, 


Dexter Grossman, 


Michael Lynch, 


Arthur Ward, 


Alonzo H. Fields, 


Thomas McGellcy, 


Lewis H. Welcome. 


Zenas Hatch, 


William Reed, 

THIRD REGIMENT. 




Joseph Elanshaw, 


James Greig, 


Charles H. Sanborn, 


Eliphalet B. Crane, 


John S. Kilby, 


Daniel E. Smith, 


John A. Deady, 


Thomas J. Miller, 


Elbridge G. Thompson, 


Charles Gee, 


Myron E. Parker, 


Henry C. Vroody. 


Austin Goodell, 


John J. Rich, 

FOURTH REGIMENT. 




Kneeland Badger, 


Lawrence Edwards, 


Joseph Marson, 


Charles A. Blanchard 


, Caros 0. Gibson, 


Smith Ormsbee, 


Zaccheus Blood, 


James Gill, 


Richard F. Rich, 


Thomas J. Burnham, 


Napoleon B. Hudson, 


Luther B. Scott, 


Charles Camp, 


Nelson D. Knight, 

FIFTH REGIMENT. 


Ransom W. Towlo. 


Joseph Blair, 


Woodman Jaekman, 


John Naylor, 


Lewis Bonett, 


Peter Ladam, 


Addison Whitcomb, 


Gilbert E. Davis, 


Julius Lewis, 


William P. Valentine. 


Joseph Farnum, 








SIXTH RKGIMBNT. 



Thomas Alden, 
John Betney, 
Charles Blake, 
Warren IT. Chapman, 
Lewis B. Cook, 
Daniel Call, 
Augustus L. Cox, 
Simon P Dean, 
Carlos W. Dwinell, 
John Fitzsimmons, 



John S. Andrews, 
George F. Bates. 
Manley E. Bellas, 
Wyman R. Bnrnap, 
Charles Buxton, 
Clesson Cameron, 
George R. Campbell, 
Joel W. Chafee, 
George E. Chamberlin, 
John Copeland, 
Stephen Currier, 
Willard M. Davis, 
Henry E Decamp, 
Charles Devereux, 
Charles Doolittle, 
Dennis Duhigg, 
Lyman Dunbar, 
Benjamin S. Edgerton 



15 



Alvah M. Gray, 
Edwin Gray, 
John P. How, 
Claphas Jenno, 
John Kelley, 
Samuel Leazar, 
Warren D. Afather, 
Edward Morse, 
Charles Parmentor, 
Leander Poquet, 

ELKVENTH REGUrBNT, 

Daniel B. Field, 
John H. Fisk. 
Orson G. Gibson, 
Allen W. Goodrich, 
Levi L. Goodrich, 
David Goosey, 
Obed S Hatch, 
George L. Heath, 
George T. Kasson, 
George A. Kilmer, 
Erastus Laird, 
Oscar R. Lee, 
Myron A. Loeklin, 
Elbridge F. Lynde, 
John McCarty, 
Joseph McLaughlin, 
Frank Minor, 



Edwin R. Richardson, 
Alden A.Spaulding, 
Sylvfster Spooner, 
Alden Thomas, 
Lewis A. Tyler, 
Charles P. Upham, 
Thomas S. Varney, 
Joseph Vondell, 
Stephen P. White. 



Julius Minor, 
Ransom M. Patch, 
George A. Peeler, 
Edgar M. Phinney, 
Joseph Rabiteaux, 
Marcellus Russell, 
Wesley G. Sheldon, 
Nelson F. Skinner, 
Robert Tibbetts, 
Foster Thomas, 
Ira C. Tompkins, 
Ira C. Twiss, 
Albert Witherbee, 
John D. Williams, 
Marshall Wilmarth, 
Albert Wood worth, 
John Woodward. 



THK SHENANDOAH CAMPAIGN. 

MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN'S REPORT. 

HEADQU^iRTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THK GULF, ) 

New Orleans, February 8, 1866. y 

Brevet Major- General J. A. Rawlins, Chief of Staff y 
Washimjton, O. C. 

General — I have the honor to make the following report 
of the campaign in the Yalley of the Shenandoah, commencing 
August fonrth, 1864. 

On the evening of the first of August I was relieved from 
the command of the cavalry corps of the Army of tlie Potomac, 
to take command of the Army of the Shenandoah, and on 
arriving at Washmgton on the fouith instant I received direc- 
tions from Major-General H. W. llalleck, Chief of the Staff, to 
proceed without delay to Monocacy Junction, on the Baltimore 
and Ohio railroad, and report in person to tlie Lieutenant-Gen- 
eral. At Monocacy the Lieuteuant-General turned over to me 
the instructions which he had previously given to Major Gen- 
eral Hunter, commanding the Department of West Virginia, a 
copy of which is iierewith attached. 

The Army of the Shenandoah at this tune consisted of the 
Sixth corps, very much reduced in numbers, one division of the 
Nineteenth corps, two small infantry divisions under command 
of General Crook, afterwards designated as the Army of West 
Virginia, a small division of cavalry under General Averell, 
which was at that time in pursuit of General McCausland, near 
Moorefield, McCausland having made a raid into Pennsylvania 
and burned the town of Chambersburg; there was also one 
small division of cavalry, then arriving at Washington, from 
my old corps. 

The infantry portion of these troops had been lying in bivouac 
in the vicinity of Monocacy Junction and Frederick City, but 
had been ordered to march the day 1 reported, with directions 
to concentrate at Halltown, four miles in front of Harper's 
Ferry. After my interview with the Lieutenant-General, I 
hastened to Harper's Ferry to make preparatioiis for an imme- 
diate advance against the enemy, who then occupied Martins- 
burg, Williainsport, and Shepardstown, sending occasional 
raiding parties as far as Hagerstown. The concentration of 
my command at Halltown alarmed the enemy, and caused him 
to concentrate at or near iMartiusburg, drawing in all his parlies- 
from the north side of the Potomac. The indications were that 



MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN'S REPORT. 171 

he had intended another raid into Maryland, prompted perhaps 
by the slight success he had gained over General Crook's 
command at Kernstown, a short time before. The city of 
Marlinsburg, at which the enemy concentrated, is on the Bal- 
timore and Ohio railroad, at the nortliera termmus of the valley 
pike, a broad macadamized road running up the valley, through 
Winchester, and terminating at Staunton. The Shenandoah 
valley is a continuation of the Cumberland valley, south of the 
Potomac, and is bounded on the east by the Blue Ridge, and 
on the west b}' the eastern slope of tiie Alleghan}^ mountains, 
the general direction of these chains being south-west. 

The valley at Martin sburg is about sixty miles broad, at 
Winchester forty to fofty-tive, and at Strasburg twenty-five to 
thirty miles, where an isolated chain, called Massanutten 
mountain, rises up running parallel to the Blue Ridge, and 
tarminates at Harrisonburg ; here the valley again opens out 
fifty or sixty miles broad. This isolated chain divides the 
valley, for its continuance, into two valleys, the one next the 
Blue Ridge being called the Luraj^ valle3^ the one west of it 
the Strasburg or mam valley. The Blue Ridge has many passes 
through it called gaps, the principal ones and those which 
have good wagon roads, are Snicker's, Ashby's, Manassas, 
Chester, Thoroughfare, Swift Run, Brown's, Rock-fish, and 
two or three others from the latter one up to Lynchburg. 
Many have macadamized roads through them, and, indeed, are 
not gaps, but small valleys tlirough the main chain. The gen- 
eral bearing of all these roads is towards Gordonsville, and are 
excellent for troops to move upon from that point into the val- 
ley ; in fact, the Blue Ridge can be crossed almost anywhere 
by infantry or cavalry. 

The valley itself was rich in grain, cattle, sheep, liogs and 
fruit, and was in such a prosperous condition that the rebel 
army could march down and up it, billeting on the inhabitants. 
Such, in brief, is the outline, and was the condition of the 
Shenandoah valle}^ when I entered it August fourth, 1864. 

Great exertions were made to got the troops in readiness for 
an advance, and on the morning of August tenth, General 
Torbert's division of cavalry having joined me from Washing- 
ton, a forward movement was commenced. The enemy, while 
we were making our preparations, took position at Bunker 
Hill and vicinity, twelve miles south of Martinsburg, frequently 
pushing his scouting parties through Smithtield and up to 
Oharlestown. Torbert was ordered to move on the Berryville 
pike, through Berrj^ville, and go into position near White Post ; 
the Sixth corps moved via the Charlestown and Summit Point 
road to Clifton; the Nineteenth corps moved on the Berryville 
pike, to the left of the position of the Sixth corps at Clifton ; 
General Crook's command via Kabletown, to the vicinity of 



172 MAJOR-GENERAL SUERIDAN's REPORT. 

Berryville, comiug into posilion on the left of tlie Nineteenth 
corps ; and Colonel Lowell, with two small regiments of cav- 
alry, was ordered to Summit Point; so that ou the night of 
August tenth, the army occupied a position stretchuig from 
Clifton to Berryville, with civalrj^ at White Post and Suuunit 
Point. The enemy moved from vicinity of Bunker Hill, 
Btretchiug las line from where the Winchester and Potomac 
railroad crosses Opequan creek, to where the Berryville and 
Winchester pike crosses the same stream, occupying the west 
bank. On the morning of August eleventh, tlie Sixth corps 
was ordered to move from Clifton across the country to where 
the Berryville pike crosses Opequan creek, carry the crossing, 
and hold it ; the Nineteenth corps was directed to move through 
Berryville, on the White Post road, for one mile, file to the 
right by heads of regiments, at deploying distances, and carry 
and hold the crossing of Opequan creek at a ford about three- 
fourths of a mile from the left of the Sixth corps; Crook's 
command was ordered to move out on the White Post road, one 
mile and a half bej-oud Berryville, file to the right and secure 
the crossing of Opequan creek at a ford about one mile to the 
left of the Nineteenth corps ; Torbert was directed to move 
with Merritt's division of cavalry up the Millwood pike toward 
Winchester, attack any fore? he might find, and, if possible, 
.iscertaiu the movements of the rebel army. Lowell was 
ordered to close in from Summit Point on the right of the 
Sixth corps. 

My intention in securing these fords was to march on Win- 
chester, at which 2)oiiit, from all mj' infoiiualion on the tenth, 
I thought t'le enemy would make a stand. In this I was mis- 
taken, as the results of Torbert's reconnoissance proved. 
Merritt found the enemy's cavalry covering the Millwood pike 
west of the Opequan, and, attacking it, drove it in the direction 
of Kernstowu, t.nd discovered the enemy retreating up the 
valley pike. 

As soon as this information was obtained, Torbert was 
ordered to move quickly, via the toll gate on the Front Royal 
pike, to Newtown, to strike the enemy's flank, and harass hira 
in his retreat, and Lowell to follow up through Winchester. 
Crook was turned to the left and ordered to Stony Point, or 
Nineveh, while Emory and Wright were marched to the left, 
and went into camp between the Millwood and Front Roj^tI 
pikes, Crook encamping at Strong Point. Torbert met some of 
the enemy's cavalry at the toll gale on the Front Ko,yal pike, 
drove it in the diroclion of Newtown, and behind Gordon's 
division of infantry, which had been thrown out from Newtown 
to cover the flank of the main column in its retreat, and which 
had put itself behind rail barricades. A portion of Menitl's 
cavalry attacked this infantry, and drove in its skirniksh line, 



MAJOR-GENERAL SHERTDAN'S REPORT. 173 

an'l altlioii.Q'h unable lo dislodire tlie division, held all the grronnd 
pained. The rebel division diirino- the ni.L'-ht moved off. Next 
day Crook moved from Stony Point to Cedar creek, Kinory fol- 
lowed; the cavalry moved to the same point, t)fa Newtown and 
the valley pike, and the Sixth corps followed the cavalry. On 
the nig'ht of the twelfth. Crook was in position at Cedar creek, 
on tiie left of the valley pike. Emory on the rip:ht of the pike, 
the Sixth coryis on the rio-ht of Emory, and the cavalry on the 
rifrht and left flanks. A heavy skirmish line was thrown to tho 
hei.thts on tho sontli side of Cedar creek, which had brisk 
skirmishins: diirino: the evening with tho enemy's pickets; his 
(the enemy's) main force occnpyinsj the heights above and north 
of Strasbnrg. On the morning of the thirteenlh, the cavalry 
was ordered on a reconnoissance towards Strasburg, on the 
middle road, wiiicli road is two and a half miles to the w^est of 
the main pike. 

Reports of a colimin of the enemy moving up from Cnlpepper 
Conrt-honse, and approaching Front Royal through Chester gap, 
having been received, caused me nmch anxiety, as any consid- 
erable force advanced through Front Royal, and down the P. 
R. and W. pike toward Winchester, could be thrown in my 
rear, or, in case of my driving liie enemy to Fisher's hill, and 
taking position in his front, this same force could be moved 
along the base of Massanntten mountain on the road to Stras- 
burg, with the same result. 

As my effective line of battle strength at this time was 
about eighteen thousand infantry, and thirty-five hundred cav- 
alr}', I reniained quiet during the day — except the activity on 
the skirmish line — to await further developments. In the 
evening the enemy retired with his main force to Fisher's hill. 
As the rumors of an advancing force from the direction of 
Culpepper kept increasing, on the morning of the fourteenth I 
sent a brigade of cavalry to Front Royal, to ascertain definitely, 
if possible, the truth of such reports, and at the same time 
crossed the Sixth corps to the south side of Cedar creek and 
occupied the heights above Strasburg. Considerable picket 
firing ensued. Din-ing the day I received from Colonel Chip- 
man, of the Adjutant-General's oflSce, the following despatch, 
he having ridden with great haste from Washington through 
Snicker's gap, escorted by a regiment of cavalry, to deliver the 
eame. It at once explained the movtment from Culpepper, and 
on the morning of the fifteenth, tho remaining two brigades of 
Merritt's division of cavalry were ordered totlie crossing of tho 
Sheuandoah river near Front Royal, and the Sixth corps with- 
drawn to the north side of Cedar creek, holding at Stiasburg a 
strong skirmish line. 



174 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN'S REPORT. 

(By telegraph, received in cypher.) 

City Point, August 12, 18C4, 9 a. m. 

Major-General Halleck : 

Inform General Sheridan that it is now certain two divisions 
of infantrj' have gone to Karly, and some cavalry and twenty 
pieces of artillery. This movement commenced last Saturday 
night, he must be cautious, and act now on the defensive imtil 
movements liere force them to this — to send this way. 

Early's force, with this increase, cannot exceed forty thou- 
sand men, but this is too much for General Sheridan to attack. 
Send General Sheridan the remaining brigade of the Nineteenth 
corps. 

I have ordered to Washington all the one hundred day men. 
Their time will soon be out, but, for the present, they will do 
to serve in the defense. 

U. S. Grant, 

Lieutenant-Genersl. 

The receipt of this despatch was very important to me, as I 
possibly would have remained in tmcertaintyas to the character 
of the force coming in on my flank and rear, until it attacked 
the cavalry, as it did on the sixteenth. 

I at once looked over the map of the valley for a defensive 
line (that is, where a smaller number of troops could hold a 
greater number) and could see but one such. I refer to that at 
Halltown, in front of Harper's Ferry. Subsequent experience 
has convinced me that no othf r really defensive line exists in 
the Shenandoah valley. I therefore determined to move back 
to Halltown, carry out my instructions to destroj^ forage and 
subsistence, and increase my strength by Grover's division of 
the Nineteenth corps, and Wilson's division of cavalry, both of 
which were marching to join me, via Snicker's gap. Emory 
was ordered to move to Winchester on the night of the fifteenth, 
and, on the night of the sixteenth, the Sixth corps and Crook's 
command were ordered to Clifton, via Winchester. 

On the afternoon of the sixteenth I moved my headquarters 
back to Winchester; while moving back (at Newtown) I heard 
cannonading at or near Front Royal, and on reaching Winches- 
ter, Merritt's couriers brought despatches from him, stating 
that he had been attacked at the crossing of the Shenandoah 
by Kershaw's division of Longstreet's corps, and two brigades 
of rebel cavalry, and that he had handsomely repulsed the 
attack, capturing two battle flags and three hundred prisoners. 
During the night of the sixteenth, and early on the morning of 
the seventeenth, Emory moved from Winchester to Berryville, 
and, on the morning of the seventeenth. Crook and Wright 
reached Winchester and resumed the march toward Clifton; 
Wright, who had the rear guard, getting only as far as the 



MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN'S REPORT. 175 

Berryville crossing of the Opequnn, where he was ordered to 
remain ; Crook getting to the vicinitj^ of Berryville. Lowell 
reached Winchester with his two regiments of cavalry on the 
afternoon of the seventeenth, where he was joined by General 
Wilson's division of cavalry. Merritt, after his handsome 
engagement near Front Royal, was ordered back to the vicinity 
of White Post, and General Grover's division joined Emory at 
Berryville. The enemy having a signal station on Three-iop 
mountain, almost overhanging Strashurg, and from which every 
movement made by our troops could be seen, was notified early 
in the morning of the seventeenth as to this condition of affairs, 
and without delay followed after us, getting into Winchester 
about sundown, and drivuig out General Torliert, who was left 
there with Wilson and Lowell, and the Jersey brigade of tho 
Sixth corps. Wilson and Lowell fell buck to Summit Point, 
and the Jersey brigade joined its corps at the crossing of the 
Opequan. Kershaw's division, and two brigades of Fitz Lee's 
cavalry division, which was the force at Front Royal, joined 
Early at Winchester, I think, on the evening of the seven- 
teenth. 

On the eighteenth the Sixth corps moved, via Clifton, to 
Flowing Spring, two miles and a half west of Cliarlestown, on 
the Smithfleld pike; Emory about two miles and a half south 
of Charlestown, on the Berryville pike ; Merritt tame back to 
Berryville; Wilson remained at Summit Point, covering the 
crossing of Opequan creek as for north as the bridge at Smith- 
field ; Merritt covering the crossing of the Berryville pike; 
Crook remained near Clifton, and the next day moved to tlie 
left of Emory. This position was maintained until the twenry- 
first, when the enemy moved a heavy force across the Opequan 
at the bridge atSmithfield, driving in the cavalry nickets which 
fell back to Summit Point, and advanced rapidly on the position 
of the Sixth corps, near Flowing Springs, when a very sharp 
and obstinate skirmish took place with the heavy picket line of 
that corps, resulting very much in its favor. The enemy 
appeared to have thought that I had taken position near Sum- 
rait Point, and that by moving around rapidly through Smith- 
fleld he would get into my rear. In this, however, he was 
mistaken. During the day Merritt (who had been attacked and 
held his ground) was recalled from Berryville. Wilson had 
also been attacked by infantry, and had also held his ground 
until ordered in. During the night of the twenty-first the 
army moved back to Halltown without inconvenience or loss; 
the cavalry, excepting Lowell's command, wrJch formed on the 
left, moving early on the morning of the twenty-second, and 
going into position on the right of the line. 

On the morning of the twenty-second tlie enemy moved up 



I7fi MAJOR-GENEKAL SIIERIDAN's REPORT. 

captured, was of ?o conflicting; and contradictory a nature, that 
I determined to ascertain if possible, while on this defensive 
line, what reinforcements had actually been received by the 
enemy. This could only be done b)^ frequent reconnoissiinces, 
and their results convinced me Chat but one division of infantry, 
Kershaw's, and one division of cavalry, Fitz Lee's, h.ad joined 
him 

On the twenty-third I ordered a reconnoissance by Crook, 
who was on the left, resulting in a small Ciiptnre, and a num- 
ber of casualties to the enemy. 

On the twenty-iourth another reconnoissance w^is made, 
capturinic a number of prisoneis, our own loss being about 
thirty men. On ihe twentv-lifth there Was .sharp picket tiringr 
during the day on part of the infantry line. The cavalry was 
ordered to attack the enemy's c; valry at Kearneysvillc. This 
attack was handsomely made, but, instead of finding the ene- 
my's cavalry, his infantry v/as encountered, and for a time ' 
doubled up and thrown into the utmost confusion. It was 
marching towards Shepardstown. This engagement was 
somewhat of a mutual surprise — our cavalry expecting to meet 
the enemy's cavalry, and his infantry expectiiig no opposition 
whatever. General Torbert, who w-as in command, tinding n 
large force of the rebel infantry in his front, came back to our 
left, and the enemy believing his (the enemy's) movements had 
been discovered, and that the force left by him in my front at 
Halltown would be attacked, returned in great haste, bur, 
before doing so, isolated Custer's brigade, which had to cross 
to the north side of the Potomac, at Shepardstown, and join 
me via fTarper's Ferry. 

For my own part I believed Early meditated a crossing of his 
cavalry into Maryland, at Williamsport, and I sent AYilson's 
division around by Ifarper's Ferry to watch its movements. 
Averill in the nrican time had taken post at Williamsport, on 
the north side of the Potomac, ami held the crossing against a 
force of rebel cavalry which made the attempt to cross. On 
the night of the tv/enty-sixth the enemy silently left ray front, 
moving over Opeqnan creek, at the Smithfield and Summit 
Point Crossings, and concentrating his force at Brucetown and 
Bunker Hill, leaving his cavalry at Leetown and Smithfield. 

On the twenty-eighth I moved in front of Charlestown with 
the infantry, ancl directed Merritt to attack the enemy's c;. valry 
at Leetown, which he did, defeating it, and pursuing it through 
Smithfield. Wilson recrossed the Potomac at Siiepardstown, 
and joined the infantry in front of Charlestown. 

On the twenty-ninth Averill crossed at Williamsport and 
advanced to Martinsburg. On the same day two divisions of 
the enem3-'s infantr}', and a small force of cavalry, attacked 
Merritt at the Smithfield bridge, and, after a hard fight, drove 



MAJOK-GENEKAL SUERIDAN'S KEPOKT. 177 

toCbarlestowu and pushed well up to my position at Halltown, 
Bkirmishing with the cavahy videites. 

The despatches received from the Lieuteunut-General com- 
maudinj-, from Captain G. K. Leet, A. A. G., at Washington, 
and iuformatiou derived from my scouts, and from prisoners 
him through Smithiield and back towards Ch:irles1-own, the 
cavalry lighting witii great obstinacy until I could reinforce it 
with Kickctts' division of the Sixth corps, when in turn the 
enemy was driven back through Smiihticld, and over the 
Opequan, the cavalry again taking post at the Smithiield 
bridge. 

On the thirtieth Torbert was directed to move Merritt and 
Wilson to Berryville, leaving Lowell to guard the Smithfield 
bridge and occupy the town. 

Oh the thirty-tirst Averill was driven back from Martins- 
burg to Falling Waters. 

From the first to the third of September nothing of impor- 
tance occurred. 

On the third, Averill, who had returned to Martiusburg, 
advanced on Bunker Hill, attacked McCausland's cavalry, 
defeated it, capturing wagons and prisoners, and destroying a 
good deal of property. The infantry moved into position 
stretching from Clifton to Berryville, Wright moving by Sum- 
mit Point, Crook and Emory bj^ the Berryville pike; Torbert 
had been ordered to White Post early in the day, and the 
enemy, supposing that he could cut him off, pushed across the 
Opequan towards Berryville with K-rshavv's division in advance, 
but this division not expecting infantry, blundered on to Crook's 
lines about dark, and was vigorousl}' attacked and driven with 
heavy loss back towards the Opequan. Tins engagement, which 
was after niglitfall, was very spirited, and our own and the 
enemy's casualties severe. 

From this time until the nineteenth of September I occupied 
the line from Clifton to Berryville, transferring Crook to Summit 
PoinL on the eighth, to use him as a movable column to protect 
my right flank and hue to Harper's Feny, while the cavalry' 
tiueatened the enemy's right Hank and his line of communica- 
liotJS up the valley. 

The diflerence of strength between the two opposing forces 
at this time was but little. 

As I had learned, beyond doubt, from my scouts, that Ker- 
shaw's division, which consisted of four brigades, was to be 
ordered back to Riclmioud, I had for two weeks patiently 
waited its withdrawal before attacking,' b;'lieving the condition 
of affairs throughout the country required great prudence on 
my part, that a defeat of the forces of rny commauii could be 
ill-afforded, and knowing that no interests in tlie valley, save 
those of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, were suffering by the 



178 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN'S REPORT. 

delay. In this view I was coiuciding with the Lieuteuant- 
Genc-ral commauding. 

Altliough the main force remained without change of posi- 
tion from September third to nineteenth, still the cavalry was 
employed every day in harassing the enemy, its opponents 
being principally infantry. In these skirmishes the cavalry 
was becoming educated to attack infantry lines. 

On the thirteenth, one of these handsome dashes was made 
by General Mcintosh, of Wilson's division, capturing the 
Eighth South Carolina regiment at Abram's creek ; on the 
same day Getty's division of the Sixth corps made a recon- 
noissance to the Opequan, developing a heavy force of the 
enemy at Edwards' Crossing. 

The position which I had taken at Clifton was six miles from 
Opequan creek, on the west bank of which the enemy was in 
position. This distance of six miles I determined to hold as 
my territory by scouting parties, and in holding it in this way, 
without pushing up the main force, I expected to be able to 
move on the enemy at the proper time, without his obtaining 
the information which he would immediately get from his 
pickets, if I was in close proximity. 

On the night of the fifteenth I received reliable information 
that Kershaw's division was moving through Winchester, and 
in the direction of Front Royal. Then our time had come, and 
I almost made up my mind that I would fight at Newtown, on 
the valley pike, give up my line to the rear, and take that of 
the enemy. From my position at Clifton I could throw my 
force into Newtown before Early could get information and 
move to that point. I was a little timid about this movement 
imtd the arrival of General Grant at Ciiarlestown, who endorsed 
it, and the order for the movement was made out, but, in con- 
sequence of a report from General Averill, on the afternoon of 
the eighteenth of September, that Early had moved two divis- 
ions to Alartinsburg, I changed this programme, and deter- 
mined to first catch the two divisions remaining in vicinity of 
Stevenson's depot, and then the two sent to Martinsburg, in 
detail. This information was the cause of the bactle of Ope- 
quan, instead of the battle of Newtown. 

At three o'clock on the morning of the nineteenth September 
the army moved to the attack. Torbert was directed to advance 
with Merritt's division of cavalry from Summit Point, carrj'the 
crossings of Opequan creek, and form a jiuiction at some point 
near Stevenson's depot with Averill, who moved from Darks- 
ville. Wilson was ordered to move rapidly up the Berryville 
pike from Berrj'ville, carry its crossing of the Opequan, and 
charge through the gorge or canon, the attack to be supported 
by the Sixth and Nineteenth corps, both of which moved 
across the country to the same crossing of the Opequan. Crook 
moved across the country to be in reserve at the same point. 



MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN'S REPORT. 179 

Wilson, with Mcintosh's brigade leading:, made a gallant 
charge througli tlie long canon, and meeting the advance of 
Ramsenr's rebel infantry division, drove it back and captured 
the earthwork at the mouth of the canon; this movement was 
immediately followed up by the ti^ixth corps. The Nineteenth 
corps was directed, for convenience of movement, to report to 
General Wright on its arriv:d atOpeqnan creek. I followed up 
the cavalry attack, and selected the ground for the formation of 
the Sixth and Nineteenth corps, which went into lino undor a 
heavy artillery fire. 

A good deal of time was lost m this movement through the 
canon, and it was not until perhaps nine o'clock, a. >i., that the 
order for the adv.mce in line was given. I had. from earh' in 
the morning, become apprised that I would have to engage 
Early's entire army, instead of two divisions, and determined 
to attack with the Sixth and Nineteenth corps, holdmg Crook's 
command as a turning column to use only when the crisis of 
the battle occurred, and that I would put him in on my left, 
and still get the valley pike. The attack was therefore made 
by the Sixth and Nineteentli corps, in very handsome style, 
and under a heavj' fire from the enemy, who held a line which 
gave him tiie cover of slight brushwood and cornfields. 

The resistance during this attack was obstinate, and, as 
there were no earthworks to protect, deadly to both sides. 

The enemy, after the contest liad been going on for some 
time, made a counter charge, striking the right of the Sixth 
corps and left of the Nineteenth, driving back the centre of my 
line. 

It was at this juncture that I ordered a brisrade of Rnssell's 
division of the Sixth corps to wait till the enemy's attacking 
column presented its flank, then to strike it with vigor. This 
vvas handsoinelj^ done, the brigade being led by General Rus- 
sell, and its commander, Upton, in pers^on ; the enemy in turn 
was driven back, our line re-established, and most of the two 
or three thousand men who had gone to the rear brought 
back. 

I still would not order Crook in, but phiced him directly in 
rear of the line of battle; as the reports, however, that the 
enemy were attempting to turn my rigiit kept continually 
increasing, I was obliged to put him in on that flank instead of 
on the left, as was oiiginallj' intended. He was directed to act 
as a turning column, to find the left of the enemy's line, strike 
it in flank or rear, break it up, and that I would order a left 
half wheel of the line of battle to support him. In this attack 
the enemy was driven in confusion from his position, and sim- 
ultaneous with it Merritt and Averill, under Torbert, could be 
distinctly seen sweeping up the Martinsburg pike, driving the 
enemy's cavalry betbre them in a confused mass througli the 



180 MAJOR-GENERAL SIIEKIDAN's REPORT. 

broken infant.ry. I then rode along the line of the Nineteenth 
and Sixih corpH, ordered tiieir advance, and directed Wilson, 
who was on the left flank, to push on and gain the valley pike 
Routhof Winclicster; afttr wh ch I returned to tie right, 
where tlie enemy was still liglitins,' with obstinacy in the open 
ground in front of Wincliester, and ordered Torbert to collect 
his cavalry and charge, which was done sunuftaneously with 
the infantry advance, and the enemy routed. 

At daylight on morning of the twentieth of Septrmber tho 
army moved rapidly up the valley pike in pursuit of the enen)}'-, 
who hart contimied his retreat during the night to Fisher's hill, 
south of Sirasburg. 

Fisher's hill is the bluff immediately so\ith of and over n 
little stream called Tumbling river, and is a position wliich was 
almost uuprognable to a direct assault, and as the valley is but 
about three and a hnlf miles w'de at this point, the enemy 
con idered himself seciue on reaching it. and commenced 
erecting breastworks across the valley from Fisher's hill to 
North mountam; so secure, ui fact, did he consider himself, 
tliat tho ammunitiou boxes were taken from tho caissons and 
placed for convenience behind the breastworks. 

On tlie evening of Septemlier twentieth, Wright and Fmory 
went into position on the l.eiglits of ."^trasburg. Crook north 
of Cedar creek, the cavalr}' to the right and re;ir of Wright, 
and Emory extending to the back road. This nigiit I resolved 
to use a turning column again, and tliat I would move Crook, 
unperceived, if possible, over on to the face of Little North 
mountain, and Id. him strike the left and rear of the enemy's 
line, and then, if successful, make a left half wheel of tho 
whole line of battle to his support. To do this required much 
secresy, as tlie enemy had a signal station on Threetop moun- 
tain, from which he could see every movement made by our 
troops; therefore, during tlie night of the twentieth. I con- 
cealed Crook in the timber north of Cedar creek, where he 
remained during the twenty-tirst. On the same day I moved 
Wright and Kmory up in the front of the rebel line, getting 
into proper position after a severe engagement between a por- 
tion of Ricketts' and Getty's divisions of the Sixth corps, antl 
a strong fcrce of tlie enemy. Torbert, with Wilson's and Mer- 
ritl's cavalry, was ordered down the Luray valley in pursuit of 
the enemy's cavalry, and, afti^r defeating or driving it, to cross 
over Luray pike to New Market and intercept the enemy's 
infantry should I drive it from the position at Fisher's hill. 

On the nigiit of the twenty-first, Crook was moved to, and 
concentrated in, the timl^er near Strasburg, and at dajiight on 
the twentv-seeond marched to, and massed in, the timlier near 
Little North mountain. L did not attempt to cover the long 
front presented by the enemy, but massed the Si-xth and Nine- 



MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN'S REPORT. 181 

teentli corps opposite the right centre of his hne. After Crook 
had gotten into the positior^ last mimed, I took out Ricketts' divis- 
ion of the Sixth corps and placed it opposite the enemy's left 
centre, and directed Averill with his cavalry to go up on Rick- 
etts' front and ri^ht, and drive in the enemy's skirmish line, if 
possible. This was done, and the enemy's signal officer on 
Threetop mountain, mistaking Ricketts' division for my turning 
column so notified the enemy, and he made his arrangements 
accordingly, whilst (Jrook, without being observed, moved on 
the side of Little North mountain, and struck the enemy's left 
and rear so suddenly and unexpectedly, that lie (the enemy) 
supposing he must hove come across the mountains, broke; 
Crook swinging down behind the line, Ricketts swinging in 
and joming Crook, and so on the balance of the Sixth and 
Nineteenth corps, the rout of the enemy being complete. 

Unfortunately the cavalry which I had sent down the Luray 
vallej^ to cross over to New Market was unsuccessful, and only 
reached so lar as Milh'ord, a point at which the Luray valley 
contracts to a gorge, and wliich was taken possession of by 
the enemy's cavalr}^ in some force. Had C4eneral Torbert 
driven this cavalry, or turned the defile and reached New Mar- 
ket, I have no doubt but that we would have captured the 
entire rebel army. I feel certain that its rout from Fisher's 
hill was such that there was scarcely a company organization 
held together. New Market being at a converging point in the 
valley they came together ag.iin, and to some extent reor^ 
ganized. I did not wait to see the results of this victory, but 
pushed on during the night of the twenty-second to Woodstock, 
although the darkness and consequent confusion made the pur- 
suit slow. 

On the morning of September twenty-third. General Devins, 
with his small brigade of cavalry, moved to a point directly 
north of Mount Jackson, driving the enemy in his front, and 
there awaited the arrival of General Averill's division, which 
for some unaccountable reason went into camp immediately 
after the battle. General Averill reached Devins' command at 
three o'clock, p. m., and, in the evening, returned with all the 
advance cavalry of which he was in commar.d, to a creek on® 
half mile north of Hawkinsburg, and there remained until the 
arrival of the head of the infantry column, which had halted 
between Edinburg and Woodstock for wagons, in order to issue 
the necessary rations. 

Early on the morning of the twenty-fourth the entire army 
reached Mount Jackson, a small town on the north bank of the 
north fork of the Shenandoah. The enemy had in the mean 
time reorganized, and taken position on the bluff', south of the 
river, but had commenced this same morning his retreat toward 
Harrisonburg ; still, he held a long and strong line with the 

16 



182 MAJOR-GENEEAL SHERIDAN 'S REPORT. 

troops that were to cover liis rear, in a temporary line of rifle- 
pits on the bluflf commanding the plateau. 

To dislodge liim from his strong position, Devius' brigade of 
cavalry was directed to cross the Shenandoah, work around 
the base of the Massanutten range, and drive in the cavalry 
which covered his (the enemy's) right flank; and Powell, wha 
Lad succeeiled Averill, was ordered to move around his left 
flank via Siinberville, whilst the infantry was rushed across the 
river by the bridge. 

The enemy did not wait the full execution of these move- 
ments, but withdrew in haste, the cavalry under Devins coming 
up with him at Newmarket, and made a bold attempt to hold 
him until I could push up our infantry, but was unable to da 
so as the open, smooth countrj^ allowed him (the enemy) to 
retreat with great rapidity in line of battle, and tlie three or 
four hundred cavalry under Devins was unable to break this 
line. Our infantry was pushed by heads of columns very hard 
to overtake, and bring on an engagement, but could not suc- 
ceed, and encamped about six miles south of Newmarket for 
the night. 

Powell meantime had pushed on through Simberville, and 
gained the valley pike near Lacy's springs, capturing some 
prisoners and wagons. 

This movement of Powell's probably forced the enemy to 
abandon the road via Harrisonburg, and move over the KeezeU 
town road to Port Republic, to which point the retreat was 
continued through the night of the twenty-fourth, and from 
thence to Brown's gap in the Blue Ridge. 

On the twenty-fifth, the Sixth and Nmeteenth corps reached 
Harrisonburg. Crook was ordered to remain at the junction of 
the Keezeltown road with the Valley pike until the movements 
of the enemy were definitely ascertained. 

On this day Torbert reached Harrisonburg, having encoun- 
tered the enemy's cavalry at Luray, defeating it and joining- 
me via Newmarket, and Powell had proceeded to Mount 
Crawford. 

On the twenty-sixth Merritt's division of Cavalry was or- 
dered to Port Republic, and Torbert to Staunton and Waynes- 
boro to destroy the bridge at the latter place, and, in retiring, 
to burn all forage, drive off all cattle, destroy all mills, &c., 
which would cripple the rebel army or confederacy. 

Torbert had with him Wilson's division of cavalry and Low- 
ell's brigade of regulars. 

On the twenty-seventh, while Torbert was making his ad- 
vance on Waynesboro, I ordered Merritt to make a demonstra- 
tion on Brown's Gap to cover the movement. This brought 
out the enemy (who had been re-enforced by Kershaw's division 
■which came through Swift Run Gap,) against the small force 



MAJOR-GENERAL SHEKIDAN's REPORT. 183 

of cavalry employed in this demonstration, which be followed 
up to Port Rcpul)lic, and I believe crossed in some force. 
Merriti's instructions from me were to resist an attack, but, if 
pressed, to fall Imck to Cross Keys, in whicli event T intended 
to attack with tlie main force which was at Harrisonburg, and 
could be rapidly moved to Cross Keys. The enemy, however, 
advanced with liis main force only to Port Republic, after which 
he fell back. Torhert tliis day took possession of Waynesboro, 
and partially destroyed the railroad bridge, but about dark on 
the twenty-eighth was attacked by infantry and cavalry, re- 
turned to St lunton and from thence to Bridgewater via Spring- 
hill, executing the order for the destruction of subsistence, 
forage, &c. 

On the morning of the twenty-eighth Merritt was ordered to 
Port Republic to open communication with General 'J'orbert, 
but on the same night was directed to leave small forces at 
Port Republic and Swift-run gap, and proceed wiih the balance 
of bis command (his own and Custer's divisions) to Piedmont, 
swing around from that point to near Staunton, burning forage, 
mills, and such other property as might be serviceable to the 
rebel army or confederacy, and, on bis return, to go into camp 
on tlie left of the Sixth and Nineteenth corps, which were or- 
dered to proceed on the twenty-ninth to Mount Crawford, in 
support of this and Torbert's movements. 

September twenty-nintii, Torbert reached Bridgewater, and 
Merritt Mt. Crawford. 

On the first of October Merritt reoccupied Port Republic, 
and the Sixth and Nineteenth corps were moved back to Har- 
risonburg. 

The question that now presented itself was, whether or not 
I should follow the enemy to Brown's gap, where he still held 
fast, drive him out and advance on Charlottesville and Gor- 
donsville. Tiiis movement on Gordonsville I was opposed to 
for many reasons, the most important of which was, that it 
would necessitate the opening of the Orange and Alexandria 
railroad from Alexandria, and to protect this road against the 
numerous guerilla bands, would have required a corps of in- 
fantry; besides, I would have been obliged to leave a small 
force in the valley to give security to the line of the Potomac. 
This would probably occupy the whole of Crook's command, 
leaving me but a small number of fighting men. Then there 
was the ndditional reason of the uncertainty as to whether the 
army in front of Petersburg could hold the entire force of Gen- 
eral Lee there, anrl, in case it could not, a sufficient number 
might be delaclied and move rapidly by rail and overwhelm 
me, quickly returning. I was also confident that my trans- 
portation could not supply me further than Harrisonburg, and 
therefore advised tlitit the valley campaign should terminate at 



1S4 MAJOR-GKNERAL SUERIDAN's REPORT. 

Harrisonburg, and that I return, parrying out my original in- 
structions for tlie destruction of forage, grain, &c., give up the 
majority of the army I commanded, and order it to ilie Peters- 
burg line, a line which I thought the Lieutenant-General 
believed if a successful movement could be made on, would 
involve the capture of the Army of Northern Virginia. 

I therefore, on the morning of the sixth of October, com- 
menced moving back, stretching the cavalry across the valley 
from the Blue Ridge to the eastern slope of the Alleghanies, 
with directions to burn all forage and drive off all stock, &c., as 
they moved to the rear, fully coinciding in the views and in- 
structions of the Lieutenant-General tliat the vallej' should be 
made a barren waste. Tiie most positive orders were given, 
however, not to burn dwellings. 

In this movement the enemy's cavalry followed at a respect- 
ful distance until in the vicinity of Woodstock, when they at- 
tacked Custer's division and harassed it as far as Louis brook, 
a short distance south of Fisher's Hill. 

On the night of the eighth, I ordered General Torbert to 
engage the enemy's cavalry at daylight, and notified him that I 
would halt the army until he had defeated it. 

In compliance with these instructions, Torbert advanced at 
daylight on the ninth of October, with Custer's division on the 
back road, and Merrill's division on the Valley pike. 

At Louis brook the heads of the opposing columns came in 
contact and deployed, and after a short but decisive engage- 
ment the enemy was defeated, with the loss of all his artillery 
excepting one piece, and everything else which was carried on 
wheels. The rout was complete, and was followed up to Mount 
Jackson, a distance of some twenty-six miles. 

On October tenth the enemy crossed to the north side of Cedar 
creek, the Sixth corps continuing its march to Front Roj'al ; 
this was the first day's march of this corps to rejoin Lieutenant- 
General Grant at Petersburg. It was the intention that it 
should proceed through Mannssas gap to Piedmont east of the 
Blue Ridge — to which point the Manassas gap railroad had 
been completed, and from thence to Alexandria by rail ; but 
on my recommendation that it would be much better to march 
it, as it was in fine condition, through Ashbj-'s gap, and thence 
to Washiugton, the former route was abandoned, and on the 
twelfth the corps moved to the Ashby gap crossing of the She- 
nandoah river ; but, on the same day, in consequence of the 
advance of the enemy to Fisher's Hill, it was recalled to await 
the development of the enemy's new intentions. 

The question now again arose in reference to the advance ou 
Gordousville, as suggested in the following despatch : 



MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN 'S REPORT, 185 

(Cipher.) 

Wasbington, October 12, 186-t, 12 M. 

Major- General Sheridan: 

Lieutenant-General CTratit wishes a position taken far enough 
south to serve as a base for further operations upon Gordons- 
ville and Charlottesville. It must be strongly fortified and 
provisioned. 

Some point in the vicinity of llanassas gap would seem best 
suited for all purposes. 

Colonel Alexander, of the engineers, will be sent to consult 
with you as soon as you connect with General Augur. 

H. W. Halleck, 

Major-General. 

This plan I would not endorse, but, in order to settle it defi- 
nitely, I was called to Washington by the following telegram: 

WASnisGTON, October 13, 136-1. 

Major-General Sheridan, throityh General Augur : 

If you can come here, a consultation on several points is ex- 
tremely desirable. I propose to visit &eneral Grant, and would 
like to see you first. 

E. M. Stanton, 

Secretary of War. 

On the evening of the fifteenth I determined to go, believing 
that the enemy at Fisher's Hill could not accomplish much; and 
as I had concluded not to attack him at present, I ordered the 
whole of the cavalry force under Gen(;ral Torbert to accompany 
me to Front Royal, 'from whence I intended to push it through 
Chester gap to the Virginia Central railroad at Charlottesville, 
while I passed through Manassas gap to Piedmont, thence hy 
rail to Washington. Upon my arrival with the cavalry at Front 
Royal, on the night of the sixteenth, I received the following 
despatch from General Wright, who was left at Cedar Creek in 
command of the army: 

Headquarters, Middle Military Tjivision, ) 
October 16, 1864. J 

Major-General P. H. Sheridan, commanding Middle Mili- 
tary Division : 

General — I enclose you despatch which explains itself (see 
copy following): 

If the enemy should be strongly reinforced in cavalry, he 
might, by turning our right, give us a great deal of trouble. I 
shall hold on here until the enemy's movements are developed, 
and shall only fear an attack on my right, which I shall make 
every preparation for guarding against and resisting. 
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

H. G. Wright, 

Major-General CommandiDg, 



186 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN 'S REPORT. 

To Lieutenant-General Early: 

Be reach' to move as soon as my forces join you, and we will 
crusli Slieridan. 

LONGSTREET, 

Lieutenant-General. 

This message was taken off the rebel signal flags, on Three 
Top mountain. My first thought was tlint it was a ruse, but. 
on reflection, deemed it best to abandon the cavalry raid, and 
give to General Wright the entire strength of the army. I 
therefore ordered the cavalry to return and report to him, and 
addressed the following note on tb.e subject: 

Front Royal, October 16, 1S64. 

Major-General H. G. Wrighf, commandivg Sixth Army- 
Corps : 
General — The cavalry is all ordered back to you ; make 

position strong. If Longstreet's despatch is true, he is under 

the impression that we have largely detached. I will go over 

to Augur, and may get additional news. 

Close in Colonel Powell, who will be at this point. If the 

enemy should make an advance, I know you will defeat him. 

Look well to your ground, and be well prepared. Get up 

everything that can be spared. I will bring up all I can, and 

will be up on Tuesday, if not sooner. 

P. H. Sheridan, 

Miijor-General. 

After sending tliis note I continued through Manassas gap 
and on to Piedmont, and from thence by rad to Washington, 
arriving on the morning of the seventeenth. At twelve o'clock 
II. I returned by special train to Maitinsburg, arriving on the 
morning of the eighteentli at Winchester, in company with 
Colonels Thorn and Alexander, of the Engineer corps, sent 
with me by General Halleck. Puring my absence the enemy 
had gathered all his strength, and, in the night of the eighteenth, 
and early on the nineteenth, moved silently from Fisher's Hill, 
through Strasburg, pushed a heavy turning column across the 
Ehenandoah, on the road from Strasburg to Front Royal, and 
again recrossed the river at Bowman's ford, striking Crook, who 
held the left of our line, in flank and rear, so unexpectedly and 
forcibly as to drive in his outposts, invade his camp, and turn 
his position. This surprise was owing, probably, to not closing 
in Powell, or that the cavalry divisions of Merritt and Custer 
were placed on the right of our line, where it had always oc- 
curred to me there was but little danger of attack. 

This was followed by a direct attack upon our front, and the 
result was that the whole army was driven back in confusion, 
to a point about one and a half miles north of Middletown, a 
very large portion of infantry not even preserving a company 
organization. 



MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN'S REPORT. 187 

At about seven o'clock on the morning of the nineteenth 
October, an officer on picket at Winchester reported artillery- 
firing, but, supposing it resulted from a reconnoissance which 
had been ordered for this morning, I paid no attention to ir, and 
was unconscious of the true position of affairs until about nine 
o'clock, when, having ridden through the town of Winchester, 
the sound of the artillery made a battle unmistakable, and on 
reaching Mill creek, one- half a mile south of Winchester, the 
head of the fugitives appeared in sight, trams and men coming 
to the rear with appalling rapidity. 

I immediatel_y uave directions to halt and pack the trains at 
Mill Creek, and ordered the brigade at Winchester to stretch 
across the country and stop all stragglers. Taking twenty men 
from my escort, I pushed on to the front, leaving the balance, 
under General Forsyth and Colonels Thorn and Alexander, to 
do what they could in stemming the torrent of fugitives. 

I am happy to say that hundreds of the men, who on reflec- 
tion found they had not done themselves justice, came back 
with cheers. 

On arriving at the front. I found Merritt's and Custer's divis- 
ions of cavalry, under Torhert, and General Getty's division of 
the Sixth corps, opposing the enemy. I suggested to General 
Wright that we would fight on Getty's line, and to transfer 
Custer to the right at once, as he (Custer) and Merritt, Irom 
being on the right in the morning, had been transferred to the 
left ; that the remaining two divisions of the Sixth corps, which 
were to the right and rear of Getty about two miles, should be 
ordered up, and also that the Nineteenth corps, which was on 
the right and rear of these two divisions, should be hastened up 
before the enemy attacked Gett3% 

I then started out all my staff officers to bring up these 
troops, and was so convinced that we would soon be attacked, 
that I went back myself to urge them on. 

Immediately after I returned and assumed command. General 
Wright returning to his corps, Getty to his division, and the 
line of battle was formed on the prolongation of General Get- 
ty's line, and a temporary breastwork of rails, logs, &c., throwa 
up hastily. 

Shortly after this was done the enemy advanced, and from a 
point on the left of our line of battle I could see his columns 
moving to the attack, and at once notified corps commanders to 
be prepared. 

This assault fell principally on the Nineteenth corps, and was 
repulsed. 

I am pleased to be able to state that the strength of the Sixth 
and Nineteenth corps, and Ciook's command, was now being 
rapidly augmented by the return of those who had gone to the 
rear early in the day. Reports comiug in from the Front Royal 



188 



MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN S REPORT. 



pike, on which Powell's division of cavalry was posled, to the 
etfect that a heavy column of infantry was moving on that pike 
in the direction of Winchester, and that he (Powell) was retir- 
ing and would come in at Newtown, caused me great anxiety 
for the time ; and although I could not fully believe that such 
a movement would be undertaken, still it delayed my general 
attack. 

At four p. jr. I ordered the advance. This attack was bril- 
liantly made, and, as the enemy was protected by rail breast- 
works, and in some portions of his line b}' stone fences, his 
resistance was very determined. His line of battle overlapped 
the right of mine, and by turning with this portion of it on the 
flank of the Nineteenth corps, caused a slight momentary con- 
fusion. This movement was checked, however, by a counter- 
charge of General McMillans' brigade upon tlie re-entering 
angle thus formed by the enemy, and his flanking party cut off. 

It was at this stage of the battle that Custer was ordered to 
charge with his entire division ; but, although the order was 
promptly obeyed, it was not in time to capture the whole of the 
force thus cut off, and many escaped across Cedar creek. 

Simultaneous with this charge, a combined movement of the 
whole line drove the enemy in confusion to the creek, where, 
owing to the difficulties of crossing, his army became routed. 

Custer flnding a ford on Cedar creek west of the pike, and 
Devin^J, of Merritt's division, o:ie to the east of it, they each 
made the crossing just after dark, and pursued the routed mass 
of the enemy to Fisher's Hill, where this strong position gave 
him some protection against our cavalry ; but the most of his 
transportation had been captured, tlie road from Cedar creek to 
Fisher's Hill, a distance of over three miles, being literally 
blocked bv wagons, ambulances, artillerj^, caisson.?, &c. 

The enemy did not halt his 7}iain force at Fisher's Hill, but 
continued tlie retreat during the night to Newmarket, where 
his army had, on a similar previous occasion, come together by 
means of the numerous roads that converge to this point. 

This battle practically ended the campaign in the Shenandoah 
valley. When it opened we found our enemy boastful and 
confident, unwilling to acknowledge that the soldiers of the 
Union were their equals in courage and manliness ; when it 
closed with Cedar creek, this impression had been removed 
from his mind, and gave place to good sense and a strong 
desire to quit fighting. 

The very best troops of the Confederacy had not only been 
defeated, but had been routed in successive engagements, until 
their spirit and esprit were destroyed ; in obtaining these 
results, however, our loss in officers and men was severe. 
Practically all territory north of the James river now belonged 
to me, and the holding of the line3 about Petersburg and 



MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN 'S REPORT. 189 

Richmond, by the enemj^, must have been embarrassing, and 
invited the question of good military judgment. 

On entering tlie valle.y it Wiis not my object, by flanli move- 
ments, to malve tlie enemy change liis base, nor to move as far 
up as the James river, and tluis give liim the opportunity of 
making me change my base, therebj' converting it into a race- 
course, as lieretofore, bnt to destroy, to the best of my ability, 
that which was trul}'^ the Confederacy — its armies; in doing 
this, so far as the opposing army was concerned, our success 
was such that there was no one connected with the army of 
the Shenandoah who did not so M\y realize io as to render the 
issuing of congratulatory orders unnecessary; every officer 
and man was made to understand that, when a victory was 
gained, it was not more than iheir duly, nor less than their 
country expected from her gallant sons. 

At Winchester, for a moment the contest was uncertain, but 
the gallant attack of General Upton's brigade of the Sixth corps 
restored the line of battle, until the turning column of Crook's 
and Merritt's and Averill's divisions of cavalry, under Torbert, 
" sent the enemy whirling throngh Winchester." 

In thus particularizmg commands and commanders, I only 
speak iu the sense that they were so fortunate as to be available 
at these important moments. 

In the above-mentioned attack by Upton's brigade, the 
lamented Russell fell. Ho had been previously wounded, but 
refused to leave the field. His death brought sadness to every 
heart m the army. 

* * if if if if 

At Fisher's Hill it was again the good fortune of General 
€rook's command to start the enemy, and of General Ricketts' 
division of the Sixth corps to first gallantly swing in and more 
fully initiate the rout. 

At Cedar creek, Getty's division of the Sixth corps, and 
Merritt's and (juster's divisions of cavahy, under Torbert, con- 
fronted the enem}'- from the first attack in the morning until 
the battle was decided, still none behaved more gallantly, or 
exhibited greater courage than those who returned from the 
rear, determined to reoccupj'' their lost camp. 

In this engagement, early in the morning, the gallant Colonel 
Lowell, of the Regular brigade, was wounded while in the ad- 
vance €71 echelon of Getty's division, but would not leave his 
<;ommand, remaining until the final attack on the enemy was 
made, in which he was killed. 

Generals iiidwellof the Sixth corps, and Thorburn of Crook's 
command, were also killed in the morning, while behaving with 
conspicuous gallantry. 

I submit the following list of the corps, division, and brigade 
commanders, who were wounded in the campaign, the killed 



190 MAJOR-GENERAL SHEUIDAN's REPORT. 

having already beon especially noticerl, regretting that the 
scope of this report will not admit of mj' specifying by name 
all the many gallant men who were killed a-ad wounded in the 
numerous engagements in the Shenandoah valley, and most 
respectfully call attention to the accompanying sub- reports for 
such particulars as will, I trust, do full justice to all. 

Generals II. G-. Wright, J. B. Ricketts, Grover, Duval, E. 
Upton, R. S. McKenzie, Kitchen, (since died of wounds,) J. B. 
Mcintosh, G. H. Chapman, Thomas 0. Devins, Penrose, Colo- 
nels D. D. Johnson, Daniel McAuley. Jacob Sharpe. 

******* 

During this campaign I was at times annoyed by guerilla 
bands, the most formidable of which was under a partisan 
chief named Mosby, who made his headquarters east of the 
Blue Ridge, in the section of country about Upperville. I had 
constantly refused to operate against these bands, believing 
them to be substantially a benefit to me, as they prevented 
straggling, and kept my trains well closed up, and discharged 
such other duties as would have required a provost guard of at 
least two regiirents of cavalry. 

* * * * ^ * 

I attach hereto an abstract of ordnance and ordnance stores 
captured from ihe enemy during the campaign (the one hun- 
dred and one pieces of artillery being exclusive of the twenty- 
four pieces recaptured in the afternoon at Cedar creek,) also a 
detailed report of my casualties, which are in aggregate as 
follows : 

Killed, ],938; woimded, 11,89.3; missing, 3,121, total, 
16,952. 

The records of the Provost Marshal, Middle Military Division, 
show about thirteen thousand prisoners (as per annexed certi- 
ficate) to have been received by 'lim, and receipts are among 
the records of the Assistant Adjutant-General, Middle Military 
Division, for forty -nine battle-flags, forwarded to the Honorable 
the Secretary of War. 

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
P. H. Sheridan, 

Major-General IT. S. A. 

Headquarters in the Fifld, ) 

MOWOCACY KiDGK, Md., August 4, 1804. t 

Major-Geveral D. Hunter, comvianding Department West 

Virginia , 

General — Concentrate all your available forces without 
delay in the vicinity of Harper's Ferry, leaving only such rail- 
road guards and garrisons for public property as may be 
necessary. 

Use in this concentration the railroad, if by so doing time 
can be saved. From Harper's Ferry, if it is found that the 



MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN'S REPORT. 191 

enemy has moved north of the Potomac in great force, push 
north following and attacking him wherever found; following 
Jiim. if driven south of the Potomac, as long as it is safe to do 
so. If it is ascertained the enemj^ has but a small force north 
of the Potomac, then push south with the main force, detailing, 
under a competent commander, a sufficient force to look after 
the raiders, and drive them to their homes. 

In detailing such a force, the brigade of cavalry now en 
route from Wasiungtou via Rocksville may be taken into 
account. 

There are now on the way to join you three other brigades 
of the best cavalry, numbering at least live thousand men and 
liorses. These will be instructed, in the absence of further 
orders, to join you by the south side of the Potomac. One 
brigade will probably start to-morrow. 

In pushing up the Shenandoah valley, as it is expected j'ou 
will have to go tirst or last, it is desirable that nothing should 
be left to invite the enemy to return. Take all provisions, 
forage, and stock wanted for the use of your command, buch 
as cannot be consumed, destroy. It is not desirable that build- 
ings should be destroyed, they should rather be protected, but 
the people should be informed that so long as an enemy can 
subsist among them, recurrences of these raids must be ex- 
pected, and we are determined to stop them at all hazards. 

Bear in mind the object is to drive the enemy south, and to 
do this you want to keep him always in sight. Be guided in 
your course by the course he takes. Make your own arrange- 
ments for supplies of all kinds, giving regular vouchers for 
such as may be taken from loyal citizens. 

Very respectfully, 

U. S. Grant, 

Official : Lieutenant General . 

T. W. C. Moore, a. a. g. 

Headqdarters Military Division of thr Gulf, ) 

Office op the Chief Signal Officer, J- 

New Orleans, La., November 18, iBtio. j 

Major-General P. H. Sheridan, U. S. Army: 

General — I have the honor to report that the number of 
Confederate prisoners received by the forces under your com- 
mand from August tirst, 1864, to March first, 1865, was about 
thirteen thousand. The names of nearly that number are 
recorded on the books recently used in the office of the Provost- 
Marshal General, Middle Military Division. 
Respectfully submitted, 

E. B. Parsons, 

Late Provost-Marshal General, 

Middle Military Divieion. 
Official : 

T. W. C. Moore, 

Assistant Adjutant-General. 




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